Vivienne Westwood: Queen of Punk, environmentalist, activist and fashion extraordinaire (1941-2022)

London Fashion Week 2023 has unfolded in time for the funeral of the cherished Dame Vivienne Westwood, who passed away in December 2022, aged 81. Fashion icons, A-listers, loved ones, collaborators and fans gathered in London at Southwark Cathedral on February 16th, to celebrate the brilliant life of the late designer. A few of the guests included her close friends from the fashion world; Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, and Ellen Von Unwerth, who adhered to the dress code, “when in doubt, dress up!”, sporting vintage Westwood designs, with splashes of colour and tartan in her honour.

Vivienne Westwood photographed by Inez & Vinoodh, 1994.

Prior to her first marriage, the icon was a teacher, who had no idea she’d be working with the punk band, the Sex Pistols’, future manager, Malcom McLaren, to create the foundation of her colossal fashion empire. Westwood made it a mission to carve a place in the fashion community for sadomasochistic fashion, a style she’s praised and credited for pioneering to this day. From her vintage, distressed t-shirts stamped with controversial graphics for her ‘Let It Rock’ stall, to her ‘Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die; Sex’ boutique, Westwood finally made it to the runways with her Autumn/Winter 1981/82 (AW81/82) ‘Pirates’ collection- and the rest was history.

Vivenne Westwood's ready-to-wear fall 1981 collection. Photograph: David Corio.

The veteran designer, considered one of fashions last true greats, left the runway in no way she found it; introducing fetish inspired ‘SEX’ in the 70s, not to mention the ripped tartan coattails rocked by the Sex Pistols, Pirate chic, Marie Antoinette inspired pouf skirts to her delicate bridal couture collection. She was a versatile babe.

Westwood was a self-made, self-taught designer who understood the weight of her influence and used the runway to not only draw attention to her designs, but also her viewpoints; the Spring/Summer 2014 (SS14) show and Red Label SS14 collection reflected her views towards climate change, the AW14 menswear show included a proclamation against Brexit- the list is endless. In Westwood’s eyes, the runway was always more than fashion, it was her platform to enlighten people on social, political and environmental issues through design and art.

Vivienne Westwood's Red Label Spring Summer 2014 collection, imbued with her stance on climate change. Photograph: via Getty Images.

Westwood’s name is monumental beyond the runway; Naomi Campbell’s infamous stumble in 12-inch platform heels (AW93), a topless Kate Moss, in a mini-crini (mini-skirt) eating ice-cream (SS95) or even Carrie Bradshaw’s Wedding Gown, also known as the ‘cloud dress’ from her AW07/08 collection.

Supermodel, Naomi Campbell's fall during the Autumn Winter 1993 show. Photograph via: Dazed Digital.

Dame Vivienne Westwood was a rebellious revolutionist, who left behind a rich legacy and influence that has and will transcend over the decades, continuously infiltrating fashion forever. Her rebellion will live on through the timeless Vivienne Westwood pendant.

Part of the fashion community will always be eclipsed with devastation, over this truly heartbreaking loss. Dame Vivienne Westwood- always remembered and loved, the OG boss bitch.

💋 Pooja x x x x