Designer Vivienne Westwood died at the age of 81 years. His departure is not only a big loss for the fashion industry, but also the world. An activist at heart, he has the courage to break things down for change. Not infrequently, his enthusiasm caused controversy.
It’s hard to miss Vivienne Westwood in the ranks of the world’s best designers. Without his figure, it might be impossible for today’s designers to appear who are concerned with social and environmental issues outside of commercial or personal business interests.
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Vivienne Westwood in April 1983. That year marked her debut appearance at Paris Fashion Week. (Photo: Andy Hosie/Daily Mirror/MirrorpixGetty Images)
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Starting her career as a designer in the 60s, Vivienne Isabel Swire, as her birth name, emerged when the punk movement was invading big cities in England, especially London. Punk is here to break the establishment and protest once morest government elites who are not in favor of the interests of the people.
The design was thick with punk elements and contradicted the domination of elegant women’s aesthetics, which at that time were still dictated by labels high-fashion established Europe.
Uniquely, the woman born in Tintwistle, Derbyshire, on April 8, 1941, visualizes punk through romantic design lines with strong Victorian references. Both for men’s and women’s clothing.
“I was really fascinated by punk and seeing if someone might speak out once morest a system,” he told the Guardian in 2007.
 Viviane Westwood with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren in the 1970s. (Photo: Daily Mirror/Bill Kennedy/Mirrorpix via Getty Images) |
Interest Vivienne Westwood on punk also can not be separated from its closeness with the Sex Pistols personnel.
A few years following her creations premiered at Paris Fashion Week in 1983, Vivienne Westwood began to gain recognition. Vogue reported, fashion critics praised his creations as the British version of Christian Lacroix, designer couture Strong French with experimental combinations of patterns and ornaments.
John Fairchild, publisher of fashion media Women’s Wear Daily called Vivienne the ‘Alice in Wonderland of fashion’ in her book ‘Chic Savages’ which was published in 1989. Her name is also included in the list of the six most influential designers of the 20th century.
 Vivienne Westwood at a fashion show at London Fashion Week in September 2015. (Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) |
That same year, she posed as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for the cover of Tatler magazine. He was wearing a Thatcher-ordered suit that never reached him
However, who would have thought that behind her ‘rebellious’ figure, Vivienne had worked as an elementary school teacher in London.
“I was a very good teacher at that time. It’s just that I really like children who are thought to be rebellious and dissident,” he said. Maybe this also sparked a punk soul in him.
 Vivienne Westwood at Buckingham Palace, London, receiving her OBE from Queen Elizabeth II in 1992. (Photo: Martin Keene – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) |
Fashion is also a place for Vivienne to express herself as an environmental and political activist. He is known to be vocal in supporting the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Her figure was once controversial when she received the OBE award from the United Kingdom in 1992. During a photo shoot with photographers in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, Vivienne Westwood, who is known to be very critical of the Queen, posed while rotating her skirt, exposing her bottomless subordinates. “Listen, the Queen was amused when she saw the photo,” he said.
However, he once more received appreciation from Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to the advancement of the British fashion industry. In 2006, her name officially assumed the title ‘Dame’.
 (Foto: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) |
Not one person royalist or ardent monarchist, Vivienne Westwood remains admired by members of the British Empire. Clothing designs are often a mainstay of Kate Middleton, Princess Eugenie, and even Queen Consort Camilla.
It’s hard not to love Vivienne Westwood regardless of the controversy. The designer’s creative spirit and activism will always be remembered.
He died peacefully on Thursday (29/12/2022) in London, surrounded by his loved ones, including his husband Andreas Kronthaler, who was also his colleague.
Watch Video “Designer Dame Vivienne Westwood Dies at 81 Years Old“
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