Dame Vivienne Westwood has died, it has been confirmed (Picture: Getty Images)

Dame Vivienne Westwood, the iconic fashion designer, has died at the age of 81.

The designer’s representatives confirmed the news on Thursday evening, and said she died ‘peacefully’ surrounded by her family in Clapham, South London earlier that day.

Her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler said in a statement: ‘I will continue with Vivienne in my heart.

‘We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with.

‘Thank you darling.’

Dame Vivienne was best known for her quirky fashion designs which brought punk and new wave to the mainstream.

Dame Vivienne was known for her androgynous designs (Picture: Getty Images)

The designer emerged in the 1970s and brought punk and new wave to the mainstream (Picture: Getty Images)

Dame Vivienne’s flamboyant designs have become a prominent part of pop culture as much as the runway (Picture: Getty Images)

Her designs were a prominent part of pop culture; most notably, the 2008 Sex and the City movie featured Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) having to choose which famous fashion designer would create her wedding dress.

The fictional columnist, who was hoping to tie the knot with longtime lover Big, opted for a Westwood design that has become one of the most famous on-screen gowns.

Celebrities who have commissioned Dame Vivienne’s work include Dita Von Teese, who wore a purple gown from the designer when she married Marilyn Manson in 2005, and the various dresses Princess Beatrice wore to Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales’ Royal wedding in 2011.

Kim Kardashian is known to be a fan of Dame Vivienne’s work having worn her in the past, while Pharrell Williams and Marion Cotillard have sported notable looks.

Dame Vivienne’s fashion career took off when she teamed up with Malcolm McLaren, who became her partner, and launched her first fashion collection, called Pirate. and Westwood’s first fashion collection to be shown to the media and potential international buyers was Pirate.

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) famously wore a Westwood wedding dress when she attempted to marry Big in 2008’s Sex and the City movie (Picture: Rex Features)

Dame Vivienne died ‘peacefully’ surrounded by her family (Picture: Daily Mirror/MirrorpixGetty Images)

They went on to release several more collections together before separating, and Dame Vivienne found success on her own.

During the period of 1981–85, the designer created pieces inspired by the New Romantic era, while she called the period between 1988 and 1991 The Pagan Years.

Dame Vivienne is also largely responsible for the uniforms worn by flight attendants on Virgin Atlantic, after working closely with Sir Richard Branson on creating the airline’s iconic red outfits. It’s said both the designer and billionaire entrepreneur were keen on ensuring all designs used sustainable materials.

The artist used her platform to vocalise her political opinions over the years.

In 2012, she presented T-shirts at London Fashion Week which said ‘I love Julian Assange’ in support of the WikiLeaks founder and called for his release from custody.

The following year, she cut off her hair to highlight climate change issues, and endorsed former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 general election.

She was awarded an OBE from late Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1992.

But in 1996, she received a Damehood from the then-Prince Charles for her services to fashion but famously wore no knickers.

Dame Vivienne had two children, son Ben Westwood, 59, with photographer Derek Westwood, and son Joseph Corre, 55, who she shared with McLaren and is the founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur.

She married her former fashion student, Kronthaler, in 1992.

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Her representatives confirmed the news on Thursday evening.