The near-impossible task of honouring Vivienne Westwood has to begin by saying this: above all, she was a great Englishwoman – a unique designer who pushed fashion history forward, and who then used all of her power to stand up for the future of the world. Her death,, sent waves of images reverberating through memory. Vivienne as the provocateur of punk. Vivienne pioneering Pirates and mini-crinis.
It feels only right to quote Vivienne’s call to action – one snippet of speech in her nonstop campaigning – which her family and husband, Andreas Kronthaler, posted on their announcement of her death. “Stop climate change. This is a war for the very existence of the human race. And that of the planet. The most important weapon we have is public opinion.
As a young journalist, I had a crick in my neck looking up to her. Partly, that was because she set her catwalks high. It certainly was on the unforgettable day she sent Sara Stockbridge and Susie Bick waltzing out, throats dripping with pearls and bosoms bouncing above corsets printed with François Boucher’s rococo painting Daphnis and Chloe. Risqué bloomers bedecked in tassels and luscious bows flirted along. Hourglass dresses were gilded with elaborate 18th-century patterns.
Wow, she must have been really spunky to do that! fashionrevolution
Love her
Issue on Viv soon?