Vivienne Westwood

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.