Skip to main content

Vivienne Westwood

Artist Info
Vivienne WestwoodBritish, 1941 - 2022

Over her forty year career, Vivienne Westwood has become known as the “Grand Dame” of British fashion—a remarkable transition from her roots as a purveyor of Punk style. Vivienne Isabel Swire was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1941. In 1965, she met a young art student named Malcolm McLaren, and soon they began to sell their 1950s-inspired clothing from a small London shop.

Over the course of the 1970s, Westwood and McLaren’s radical, antiestablishment creations distinguished them as originators of London Punk style. Their work was characterized by rips, chains, pornographic imagery, and even chicken bones. These anarchistic designs continue to have tremendous influence on contemporary fashion.

In the early 1980s, Westwood and McLaren began to focus on loosely-fitted, romantic styles inspired by historical fashion and world cultures. They presented their first runway collection, Pirates, in 1981, followed by equally imaginative collections with names like Savage and Buffalo. Westwood and McLaren’s clothing was becoming more and more successful, but they always remained one step ahead of trends. “I do take influence from the street,” Westwood admitted. “But I give more than I take.”

Westwood and McLaren ended their partnership by 1984, and Westwood began to experiment with a more feminine style. In 1985, she presented her first major solo collection, Mini Crini, which featured short, flirty skirts based on the nineteenth-century cage crinoline (hoop skirt). Westwood’s fascination with historical dress also led to a revival of the corset, and her form-fitting designs showcased her mastery of cut and construction. Westwood claimed that “there is nothing more subversive than to be orthodox,” and she began to champion traditional British fabrics such as tartan and Harris Tweed.

In 1990, Westwood was named British Designer of the Year. Her increasingly opulent, historically-inspired designs were in direct contrast to 1990s minimalism, yet her work continued to be influential. In 2006, Westwood was furthered honored when she received the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She continues to create clothing that is at once playful, provocative, and sophisticated, and she remains true to her progressive mentality: today, Westwood is also recognized as a powerful advocate for human rights and environmental responsibility.

Read MoreRead Less
Sort:
Filters
21 results
Man’s white oxford style shirt with multiple buckled straps overtop and linked with two front r…
Man's shirt
Vivienne Westwood
c. 1978
98.140.3
Straitjacket shirt in white cotton twill, with multiple buckled straps linked at F and B rings; tunic length, with long shirttails; black stripe on chest pocket
Left: Grey, green, black striped jacket, orange and white squiggle design top, grey, black and …
Man's suit
Vivienne Westwood
1980
88.63.8
Grey cotton flannel man's jacket with grey, green, black and tan stripes, coordinating grey, black and magenta red / purple striped cotton pants
Left: Grey, green, black striped jacket, orange and white squiggle design top, grey, black and …
Set
Vivienne Westwood
Fall 1981
87.52.5
Magenta red / purple, navy blue and yellow woven striped cotton tunic; two-piece roll collar; slit neckline; front and back gathered into collar seam; straight-line; side vents; long sleeve gathered at cap and into one button cuff. Magenta, navy blue and yellow woven striped cotton pants; hemmed waistband turned down at center front; straightleg with tapered cuff; 36 cm. bottoms; stylized slant pocket left and right side hip; fly front zipper, one button closure. Black cotton wide tube sash with double pointed, self tasseled ends.
Brown bra styled over gray long sleeve zip up sweater, brown wrap skirt with green Indian print…
Ensemble
Vivienne Westwood
1982-1983
2003.97.4
coordinates; brown satin bra, brown heavy cotton dirndl wrap skirt with green Indian print on hem band and gray frayed crochet trim, and short, flat rustic boots in beige and brown mottled suede
Wide cut jeans jacket with yellow Velcro tabs at sleeve edges
Jacket
Vivienne Westwood
Spring 1984
94.162.2
Wide cut jeans jacket in blue and yellow ribbed cotton denim, with yellow Velcro tabs at sleeve edges; asymmetrical rounded notch collar; small envelope pockets sewn on top of large envelope pockets with flaps extending out of shoulder seams; slanted pockets with flaps stitched open on to jacket, above pocket, at flap points; no closure
Black leather ankle boot with wood platform heel
Boot
Vivienne Westwood
1987
2001.44.13
Rocking Horse boots in black leather with natural lacquered wood platform soles; ankle height with oval toe, tabbed vamp, and side zip closure; back of heel cut out of platform; worn with the Harris Tweed collection
Pair of black shoes with wrap leg tie and wooden platform with curved front and heel cut out
Shoes
Vivienne Westwood
Fall 1987
2016.108.3
Rocking Horse platform shoes in black leather with wrap leg ties, natural wood platform with curved front and cut out heel
Ensemble of mauve jacket with gold buttons, plum velvet collar and cuffs and floor length red, …
Ensemble
Vivienne Westwood
Fall 1988
P88.45.3
Scottish influence ensemble: mauve heather wool jacket, Royal Stewart tartan plaid skirt, white cotton blouse, white tricel drawstring waist underskirt
Two-piece dress of silver leather corset top and pink sash tied around waist with calf length s…
Dress
Vivienne Westwood
Fall 1988
P89.60.1
Two-piece Stature of Liberty dress, corset in silver leather with pink leather sash attached at side seam, and coordinating mid calf length full skirt with pannier effect in sheer white tulle over silver metallic synthetic lamé underskirt
Man’s Scottish inspired tartan ensemble of triple breasted jacket, kilt, waist tie, black beret…
Man's ensemble
Vivienne Westwood
Fall 1988
P88.45.2
Man's ensemble: Bruce of Kinnaird wool jacket in green, orange, blue, pink and black; black velvet accented shawl collar; slightly fitted; peplum; long sleeve with velvet cuff; right front flapped pocket; 15 button triple breasted center front closing. Matching kilt. Ancient Dundee tartan wool baldric with large tassel ends in orange, green, black, red and blue. White cotton shirt; winged collar on separate band; long shirt sleeve; left chest pocket; six button center front closing. Black leather sporran; grey seal fur; silver tone metal / black leather strap; snap closing. Black wool beret. Ivory wool pair of socks; knee length; handknit Aran pattern.
Man’s red and gold color blocked set of long sleeve top with padding on right elbow and left sh…
Man's ensemble
Vivienne Westwood
Spring 1989
P89.60.2
Man's top and pants set in red and gold cotton jersey, with separate button-on sleeve; open round neck; right sleeveless; extra long left kimono sleeve with padded elbow; zippered slant pockets at right and left front waist; CF zipper closure; matching button-on left long sleeve, padded shoulder and elbow; matching cropped pants, elasticized waist; padded knee, CF zipper
Beige corset top with painting print of nude male and female at front, gold long sleeves
Corset top
Vivienne Westwood
Fall 1990
2019.64.1
Iridescent beige and gold long sleeve corset bodice with photographic print of François Boucher painting detail at front, 18th century style, boning, CB zipper