Vivienne Westwood, the fashion world's wild child.
The brand Vivienne Westwood transports us straight back to 1970s England. The label's British origins provided a huge source of inspiration for the designer - there is a real punk spirit at the heart of the collections. The young English designer began her journey in the 1970s, when she set up a boutique in London with Malcolm McLaren, the then manager of punk band the Sex Pistols. Unsurprisingly, her store was brimming with women's clothing that identified as rebellious and underground. As the years and different movements went by, offerings from the label, based at 430 King's Road, changed to include fashion in tune with the times. From Teddy Boy looks she moved on to more rock'n'roll silhouettes and then turned her talents to clothing with overt sex appeal. When the store shut up shop in the 1980s, Vivienne Westwood had already made a name for herself in the fashion world and went on to pursue a solo career.
A career marked by different eras.
Vivienne Westwood organised her very first fashion show in 1981 with a pirate-themed collection. Each new collection had a specific theme and different periods of her reign over the world of fashion took inspiration from a choice succession of sources. It started with "Pagan", continued with the "Tatler girls" phase, next came "Anglomania" before she entered the "Exploration" era in the aughts. Vivienne Westwood has received the Best British Designer award three times during her distinguished career. She was also fortunate enough to receive a royal honour in 1992 when she was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Iconic pieces in Vivienne Westwood's back catalogue.
The epic story of Vivienne Westwood has seen her career marked by a series of highlights which have helped established her international reputation. In 2005, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London organised a retrospective of her career. In 2008 the designer created the wedding dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker's character in the Sex and the City movie. Finally, how can we not mention her collaboration with the footwear brand Melissa, which produced designs of wellie boots, heels and ballet pumps. Today those designs have taken on legendary status.
One thing is sure, Vivienne Westwood has never ceased to surprise and amaze us ever since her debut in the 1970s. Displaying a healthy blend of innovation and audacity, her collections of accessories and clothing for men and women are perfect for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd. The following pieces are amongst the most highly-coveted at the moment: