Vivienne Westwood

Rest In Peace Dame Vivienne Isabel Westwood, April 1941- December 2022.

I know this is a little late, but I really wanted to make a piece on Vivienne Westwood, she was a large influence on me, and many others.

She was an English fashion designer and a huge part of the current punk and new-wave fashion we see today.

She started out in a boutique with Malcolm McLaren (from the Sex Pistols). Their mix of music and clothing was a hit in the punk scene. Westwood wanted to “put a spoke in the system.” Since then, she has become one of the biggest names in fashion, specifically punk and alternative fashion.

There are around 62 Vivienne Westwood stores around the world (only two in America unfortunately). She sold lots of different merchandise, from jewelry to clothes, and more. Using her platform to talk about political causes, such as climate change, the campaign for nuclear disarmament and civil rights groups.

Westwood took jewelry-making classes at the University of Westminster when she was 19, and from there she became an elementary school teacher while still making and selling her own jewelry. In 1962 she married Derek Westwood, even making her own wedding dress.

Unfortunately, that marriage didn’t last very long… ending after she met Malcolm McLaren, the two got together and moved to Balham, opening a store together where she created clothes that Malcolm McLaren designed. He soon after became the manager of the Sex Pistols, which increased their store’s popularity tenfold.

Their store, SEX, became a meeting place for early punks in London. Westwood’s style and designs were largely influential across the scene, using their clothes to shock and send messages — they wanted to get a reaction out of people. Punk culture involves a lot of shock and trying to get reactions out of people, sending messages about social and political issues. SEX is no longer around today, but the Westwood brand reflects these same ideals that SEX did.

Her designs went through periods such as art does, her first few being her “New Romanic” era and “Pagan years,” with designs mimicking the user class between the two, similar to what we would call “ballet core” today. Her goals were to embrace the feminine past and body, but bring her ideals into the future.

Many people find out about Vivienne Westwood through the anime and manga Nana. The story of two girls both named Nana who meet on a train to Tokyo. This series has many of her designs engrained into it, even matching the characters, as well as going with the ideals of her brand.

Many celebrities, including Zendaya, Olivia Rodrigo, Angelina Jolie and more, have worn her designs to red carpets and events, sharing her message and designs.

An artist’s purpose is to share her message, art is a commentary, and Westwood was truly an artist. She was a large political activist, as I stated previously. Protesting for a better future with campaigns for nuclear disarmament, climate change, and even doing an ad with Peta. She also fought for more equality within the UK, a fairly xenophobic place that she wanted to better. Fighting for civil liberties and against far-right nationalism. She even has made comments against consumerism. This a little ironic considering her line of business, which she admitted, but stated she thinks that if someone has the money to buy from her they should, just not too much.

Vivienne Westwood will forever be an artist and a true icon. A founder and contributor to the punk movement we can still see today, and an activist we will miss.

Thank you for reading this week! I hope you enjoyed reading and that you maybe learned something new!