Catherine Walker fashioner designer to Princess Diana has died

Catherine Walker fashioner designer to Princess Diana has died

Catherine Walker, fashioner designer to Princess Diana died on September 23, at the age of 65. Apart from designing couture fashion for notable women such as Joely Richardson, Shakira Caine, Darcy Bussell, and Queen Noor of Jordan, she designed more than 1,000 outfits for Diana.

Catherine Walker avoided too much public scrutiny during her career. This is so unusual for a someone in the fashion world that her evasion of fame may have garnered her more attention than her admission to it. She hardly ever gave interviews and did not display her fashions on the catwalk. Her no-nonsense approach to fashion kept her at its pinnacle of the business for a long time.

Catherine did not like the undue trends in fashion and did not give into them. She said that fashion was fast moving, but uniform at a time when a trend is in place. She said that she designed clothes to give real style to women. In 1990 she won an award for British fashion Designer for Couture and followed it up with another the following year for Designer of the Year.

She was reclusive and hardworking. After undergoing cancer surgery in 1995, she opted for a motorbike to help her relax, went on a specific health diet. She was a founding member and passionate supporter of the charity Breast Cancer Haven.

Catherine was French born and learned English while living above a butcher’s shop in London. Her PhD led to work for the French Embassy and the French Institute.

She started studying fashion at night school after the death of her first husband, John Walker, left her to raise two small daughters. During the day she would sell clothing form a basket. The popularity of her handmade clothes led to the opening of her own shop in 1976 and finally, the founding of her fashion label, Catherine Walker and Co. Ms. Walker is survived by her two daughters.