Kate ‘should cut down on outfits’

Fashion icon Dame Vivienne Westwood has called on the Duchess of Cambridge to stop buying so many different outfits and instead make more of an effort to be environmentally friendly by re-wearing what she has.

I think it would be great if she wore the same clothes over and again, because that’s very good for the environment and it would send out a very nice message

Before her London Fashion Week showcase at the Saatchi Gallery on Sunday, Dame Vivienne said that when Kate goes to so much effort to find an outfit that looks good, she should wear it more often, and in doing so set a good example.

The designer, who believes in quality over quantity, disapproves of Kate’s expansive wardrobe.

She said: “I don’t have any advice to her, except I think it would be great if she wore the same clothes over and again, because that’s very good for the environment and it would send out a very nice message.

“If you’re going to all that trouble to get an outfit that suits you, then you should keep on wearing it.

“I mean you don’t have to have a red outfit one day and then something almost the same in blue the next.”

After his showcase in Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House, designer Matthew Williamson expressed his opposition to Westwood’s comments on Kate, who has been pictured wearing his designs.

“She has a lot to do doesn’t she? So she needs a good wardrobe. So, no, I disagree,” he said.

When asked if a girl can ever have too many clothes, Williamson said: “Of course not.”

The Westwood and William-son shows were two of the most eagerly anticipated events on day three of the fashion extravaganza.

Westwood, dressed in her usual wacky style with an image of herself and the slogan ‘I am Julian Assange’ emblazoned on her T-shirt, said the Red Label collection also carried the theme of quality over quantity – but that does not mean less glamour.

“It’s for anybody that wants to dress up quite wonderfully glamorous,” she said.

“All I can say is it’s quite a short collection this time because what I’m trying to aim for in my second line and all my offshoot products is to just keep aiming for quality all the time and have less quantity.

“I’m just trying to do a quality choice for people to wear something that really helps them to look good.

“That’s what fashion is here for. It’s here to help,” she said.

The show saw models move through various rooms in the contemporary art gallery and featured perhaps a more toned-down Westwood style.

Her trademark structured dresses were evident, along with gold boots, prints, metallics and velvet heels.

Williamson’s Royal Opera House show was attended by famous faces such as Twiggy, model Daisy Lowe, US socialite Olivia Palermo, designer Zandra Rhodes and the pinnacle of the fashion hierarchy – American Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

The magazine queen was surrounded by a pack of photographers as she took her front row seat at the show in Covent Garden, and spoke of what she expected from Williamson’s show.

“I guess colours, prints,” she said.

Asked how he felt about having such an influential person scrutinising his latest designs, Williamson did not seem fazed.

“It’s great that she came. I don’t know if it’s nerve-wrecking, but I’m thrilled that she was here,” he said.