Dress
Designer
Vivienne Westwood
(British, 1941 - 2022)
Fall 1988
Silver and pink leather, white silk tulle, and silver synthetic lamé
Museum purchase
Object numberP89.60.1
Vivienne Westwood’s studies of 18th-century fashion inspired her “Statue of Liberty” ensemble, which recontextualized the corset from underwear to erotically-charged outerwear. Westwood’s leather bodice pushes up the breasts–as did boned stays–while the shape of the skirt resembles the look of panniers (side hoops). This ensemble is from Westwood's "Time Machine" collection.
DescriptionTwo-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 underskirtExhibitions