Vivienne Westwood, a British fashion designer, died at the age of 81

Iconic Vivienne Westwood, a British fashion designer, died at the age of 81.

Westwood's company confirmed her death on Thursday in Clapham, South London.

"Vivienne Westwood died today, peacefully and surrounded by her family," the official brand account wrote in a tweet. People like Vivienne are needed in the world to make a positive difference."

Westwood was born on April 8, 1941, and was made a dame by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Westwood's designs rose to prominence during the punk era of 1970s England, with the Sex Pistols wearing many of her creations. Westwood's influence on punk is widely recognized, with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute dubbing her the "Mother of Punk."

According to Vogue, throughout the 1990s, Westwood's designs became known for elaborate and luxurious 18th Century European elements reminiscent of Marie Antoinette. Many of these ornate details can be found in one of Westwood's most well-known pieces: the "Sex and the City" wedding gown. Sarah Jessica Parker wore the gold and ivory multi-layered bridal gown in the 2008 film, and it was worn when Parker, as Carrie Bradshaw, was left at the altar.

According to Harper's Bazaar, Westwood released a series of pieces inspired by the gown to commemorate the film's tenth anniversary.