Westwood: Middleton’s style needs to ‘catch up’

Dame Vivienne Westwood has not only ruled herself out of the 'race' to design Kate Middleton's wedding dress, she has suggested in the process that Prince William's fiancée is a little too old-fashioned to be dressed by the doyenne of London chic.

The Daily Telegraph reports that speculation has been rife at London Fashion Week over which lucky designer will be patronised with the honour of creating the dress for April's Royal Wedding.

But Westwood, who was quite happy to design new statuettes for last week's Brit Awards, dismissed the possibility of a royal wedding dress when asked about it before her show yesterday at the Royal Courts of Justice.

"I'd love to have dressed Kate Middleton but we'll have to wait until she kind of catches up a bit in style," she said.

The Daily Mail, which has already ruled that Kate has "great style", will be very disappointed. After the announcement of Kate and William's William's engagement last year, the paper revealed that the princess-to-be is "tall and willowy like Diana, with fabulous legs and a small bust".

Despite this, and just in case there was any doubt, Westwood added yesterday: "When people ask me where she's going to get the dress from - she's definitely not going to get it from me, or I would have heard."

Westwood's forthright comments mark the second time in a matter of days that she has put a young woman celebrated by the media as a style icon firmly in her place.

Presenting Harry Potter actress Emma Watson with the 'style icon' award at last week's Elle Style Awards, Westwood said she had no idea who Watson was.

As the embarrassed actress stood beside her, Westwood explained why she was refusing to read out a prepared speech: "I was given this text about this woman and how amazing she is, and yesterday I was asked, 'This lady would like you to present it to her if she wins.'

"But I didn't know who she was. They said Emma Watson. I said, 'Who is Emma Watson?' I never watch television, I don't read fashion magazines. They said she used to be in Harry Potter, and I said, 'I've never seen Harry Potter.'

"They said they have this girl friend called Hermione and I said, 'Oh - she's lovely.' So I must have absorbed something of her. So I would like to give this award to Emma who I've just met."

So, Kate Middleton shouldn't be too upset - at least Westwood has actually heard of her. ·