Vivienne Westwood is one designer who doesn’t keep her opinions to herself. The First Lady of punk, Westwood pushes the political boundaries in each eccentric, Victoriana-meets-rock-n-roll-meets-Courtney-Love collection she creates season after season, with a topical issue close to the designer’s heart quite often taking centre stage.

For Vivienne Westwood Red Label AW16 said topic was climate change – or as Westwood put it, Climate Revolution. Set in London’s Royal College of Surgeons, the show called upon the colleges and universities to start an intellectual movement and put a stop to climate change.

Intellectualism was a focal point – ‘Intellectuals tell the truth [as opposed to the government]’ was one of the designer’s messages – and her collection seemed to reflect that. Still distinctively Vivienne Westwood with its hour-glass shapes, inventive draping and bold prints, this AW16 collection almost seemed pared back a little compared to those that have come before it.

There were buttoned-up tweed blazers, crisp white shirts, long conservative lengths and mannish suits, pleated midi skirts with printed knits, and silky slip like dresses that one could almost – almost – describe as simple. But this wouldn’t be Vivienne Westwood Red Label without bright red tartan, pirate buckles, quilted patchworks coats and a whole mix up of prints – of which there was an abundance of.

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Words by Angharad Jones. Images property of Vogue