Maggie Smith's fabulous Loewe campaign will be her fashion legacy
Dame Maggie Smith has sadly died at the age of 89, with the British actor sure to be remembered for her iconic turns in the likes of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.
Smith's work on stage and screen was widely acclaimed throughout her seven-decades-long career, winning her two Oscars, three Golden Globes and a Tony.
For many, she will forever be Professor McGonagall or Violet Crawley (or, for me, the icy Mrs Medlock in my favourite film, The Secret Garden) but fashion lovers will also always picture the star in her fabulous campaign for luxury Spanish fashion house Loewe, which she became the face of last October.
Shot by German photographer Juergen Teller, in one photo Smith can be seen sitting on a colourful sofa in a striking black and white dress, while in another she poses in a shaggy khaki coat while holding Loewe's cult Puzzle bag. In every picture, she looks amazing.
This authentically glamorous campaign feels worth paying tribute to again today, most importantly for its undercurrent of rebellion against the outdated social narrative that women have an expiry date in the worlds of fashion and beauty. In her Loewe photos, Smith appears to be makeup-free and there has seemingly been no airbrushing. It was a real 'two fingers' moment; we were there for it then and are still very much here for it now.
Smith's death was confirmed in a statement by her two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, reading: "It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
"An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days. We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time."
Poignantly, the above announcement came just hours after Loewe's SS25 runway show at Paris Fashion Week. Our thoughts are with Dame Maggie's family and friends.
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