Dear Design Land readers,
Vivienne Westwood passed away on December 2022 and as a designer who greatly impacted both fashion and pop culture during her 60 year long career, here’s our post in honor of her ever lasting legacy.
The SEX Boutique
Vivienne Westwood, Jordan, Chrissie Hynde, writer Alan Jones, unknown, and Sex Pistol Steve Jones.
Photo: David Dagley/Rex
In 1974, Westwood opened her boutique with her partner Malcolm McLaren at 430 King’s Road in Chelsea, London. Designs included biker jackets, distressed clothing items with edgy detailing of leathers, zippers and other hardware.
Portrait Corsets
Photo: John van Hasselt/Sygma via Getty Images
In 1987, Westwood redesigned the corset, from an underwear piece to a singular wearable statement garment. The new corset appeared in her 1988 Time Machine Collection, as well as her 1990s Portrait collection. Her most famous piece featured the printed painting “Shpeherd watching a Sleeping Shepherdess” otherwise known as Daphnis and Chloe by François Boucher.
Anglomania
Photo: Vogue
Photos: Vogue
During Vivienne Westwood’s Fall/Winter 1993 “Anglomania” collection, supermodels Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell both wore “sky-high” heels. Evangelista walked the runway in Westwood’s iconic tartan, an unforgettable look in fashion history. This was also the same show when Naomi Campbell famously fell in her high Westwood heels.
Kate Moss Topless Moment
Photo: ARNAL/GARCIA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Photos: Vogue
Kate Moss walked the runway in 1994 for the Westwood Spring/Summer collection wearing nothing but a hat, a mini skirt, pink bubblegum pumps, eating a magnum ice cream.
Sex and the City: Carrie Bradshaw’s Wedding Dress
Mario Cantone, Sarah Jessica Parker, Willie Garson on the set of "Sex and The City: The Movie," 2008
One of the most recognizable Vivienne Westwood designs featured in film is Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic wedding dress in Sex and the City film in 2008. The gown featured 2-tier draped wedding skirt, with a pointed bust and corseted bustier.
Pearl Orb Necklaces
Photos: Dua Lipa wearing pearl orb necklace - British Vogue
Janelle Monae at Paris fashion week 2020 wearing the pearl orb necklace - The New York Times
Photos: British Vogue
A now TikTok sensation, the Vivienne Westwood pearl orb necklaces and chokers with Swarovski crystal orb charm have become popular with both celebrities and social media fashion influencers. In 1987, the same necklace was originally designed as a single strand of pearls, only to transform into three strands in 1990 for Westwoods Portrait Collection.
Activism
Photo: The Daily Mail
Known for her slogan tee-shirts and climate change activism, Vivienne Westwood has always taken a stand for social and environmental causes, whether that be on the runway or public events. In 2014, Westwood shaved her head for climate change in a protest in South London.
“Vivienne cut her hair as we must all wake up to climate change. And secondly, as she wanted to cut the red out for a while and have it white- to show she’s proud of her age,” her publicist explained.
During her Spring/Summer 2006 collection, Westwood designed tees with “I am not a terrorist, please don’t arrest me” slogan, demanding fair trials for Guantanamo Bay prisoners in Fall/Winter 2008 and asking for a Climate Revolution in Spring/Summer 2013,
An outspoken, energetic and brilliantly creative figure, Vivienne Westwood will be remembered always for her unmistakeable mark in fashion.