Vivienne
Westwood
Vivienne
Westwood is an English fashion designer who was hugely responsible in the
creating of the punk trend. Born Vivienne Isabel Swire in Glossop,
Derbyshire, England, on April 8, 1941. Considered one of the most
unconventional and outspoken fashion designers in the world, Westwood rose to
fame in the late 1970s when her early designs helped shape the look of the punk
rock movement. The 72 year old now has 6
exclusive shops, four in London, one in Leeds, and one in
Milan. Franchise stores are located in Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, three in
Manchester (Spring Gardens in the city Centre and two others) and most recently,
in FH Mall, Nottingham (20 March 2008),Blake Street, York (11 September 2008)
and Cardiff City Centre (September 2012). She also has showrooms in Milan,
Paris, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
But as the punk movement faded,
Westwood was hardly content to rest on her laurels. She's constantly been ahead
of the curve, not just influencing fashion, but often times dictating it. After
her run with the Sex Pistols, Westwood went an entirely new direction with her
Pirate collection of frilly shirts and other attire. Her styles have also
included the mini-crini of the 1980s and the frayed tulle and tweed suit of the
1990s. She's even proved it's perfectly possible to make a subversive statement
with underwear. "Vivienne's effect on other designers has been rather like
a laxative," English designer Jasper Conran once explained. "Vivienne
does, and others follow."
Westwood's unconventional style
sense, is an outspokenness and daring that demonstrates a certain level of
fearlessness about her and her work. In one famous incident she impersonated
the Margaret Thatcher on the cover of an British
magazine. To do so, she wore a suit Thatcher had ordered but not yet received,
an act that made the Thatcher irate.
Still, Westwood's influence is hard
to deny. Twice she has been named British designer of the year and was awarded
the O.B.E. (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1992.
Westwood still stands today as one of
the most influential designers in the business and I want to use her creativity
in my exam piece and also her use of feathers.
