Anarchist Fashion
In the early 1970s, Vivienne Westwood was married to rock-and-roll entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren, who managed the Sex Pistols. Together, in 1971, they opened a shop on the famed Kings Road in London called Let it Rock. Let it Rock sold primarily 1950s inspired rockabilly fashions. In the mid 1970s, McLaren and Westwood became interested in selling outrageous bondage type fashions and changed their shop’s name to SEX. Westwood began designing clothes for the Sex Pistols to wear and outfitted them in bondage pants and distressed shirts with safety pins. Westwood’s name became synonymous with creating the whole punk rock image.
Pirate Collection
In 1981, Westwood had her first catwalk show that featured the memorable “pirate collection.” The pirate collection made another impression on pop culture in the United Kingdom by influencing the New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s.
Gold, Red, and Anglomania
Vivienne Westwood currently produces three different collections. Her most expensive clothing collection is her couture Gold Label. She also has a more wild Anglomania line that features ethnic patterns and a ready-to-wear Red Label. Westwood likes to use tartan patterns in her designs and is a fan of tweed. For her jewelry line, she uses orbs, skulls, safety pins and teddy bear charms.
No Stranger to Controversy
Ever since Westwood began designing clothes with McLaren in the 1970s, she has been no stranger to controversy. She has, throughout her career, continued to use images that would provoke anger, hostility, or debate. In the 1970s, one of her best selling punk T-shirts had the words “DESTROY” on it and featured an inverted crucifix and a Nazi Swastika. In 2005, Westwood designed shirts for one of Britain's largest civil rights groups, Liberty. The shirts bore the slogans, “I am not a terrorist. Please don’t arrest me.” and “Liberty throw away the key.” The shirts were designed in response to the British government's proposal to allow terrorist suspects to be detained for up to three months without being charged.
Celebrity Fans
Westwood’s celebrity fans include Gwen Stefani, Dita Von Teese, Marilyn Manson, Jerry Hall, Mick Jagger, Pete Burns, Fearne Cotton, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell. Pop diva Gwen Stefani loves Westwood so much that she dropped Westwood’s name in several of her songs on her debut solo album. Westwood’s fashions were also frequently featured on the TV show Sex and the City.
Where You Can Buy Her Clothes and Accessories
Westwood still sells her fashions from the shop on Kings Road, only now it is called World’s End. Westwood also has stores throughout the word in Japan and China. Hervia Limited is the United Kingdom’s leading retailer of Vivienne Westwood clothes and accessories. You can also buy Westwood’s Red Label clothes online at YOOX and Net-a-Porter.
