Vivienne Westwood

The acclaimed biography of one of England’s great eccentrics and leading fashion designers, reissued in an updated edition to coincide with a major exhibition of Westwood’s work at the Victoria & Albert Museum. For three decades, Vivienne Westwood has been Britain’s most consistently original, outrageous, eccentric and controversial designer. In that time she has evolved from an iconoclastic outsider to an internationally revered figure, with two British Designer of the Year awards, an OBE, her own successful fashion label and an unrivalled reputation for leading where other designers follow. Her lifestyle could scarcely be in greater contrast to the opulence which surrounds other leading designers: until recently she lived in a modest council flat in South London, and she still travels around the capital by bicycle, dressed in her own flamboyant creations, with a plastic bag protecting her hair from the elements. How did an awkward girl from a conventional and provincial background become one of world fashion’s most influential and respected designers? How has she managed to remain true to her own idiosyncratic vision, refusing to conform to the fashion industry’s, and society’s, expectations? Speaking to Westwood herself, her friends, lovers, colleagues, rivals, admirers and detractors, Jane Mulvagh has created a portrait as rich, distinctive and constantly surprising as her subject’s character and work.

The acclaimed biography of one of England’s great eccentrics and leading fashion designers, reissued in an updated edition to coincide with a major exhibition of Westwood’s work at the Victoria & Albert Museum. For three decades, Vivienne Westwood has been Britain’s most consistently original, outrageous, eccentric and controversial designer. In that time she has evolved from an iconoclastic outsider to an internationally revered figure, with two British Designer of the Year awards, an OBE, her own successful fashion label and an unrivalled reputation for leading where other designers follow. Her lifestyle could scarcely be in greater contrast to the opulence which surrounds other leading designers: until recently she lived in a modest council flat in South London, and she still travels around the capital by bicycle, dressed in her own flamboyant creations, with a plastic bag protecting her hair from the elements. How did an awkward girl from a conventional and provincial background become one of world fashion’s most influential and respected designers? How has she managed to remain true to her own idiosyncratic vision, refusing to conform to the fashion industry’s, and society’s, expectations? Speaking to Westwood herself, her friends, lovers, colleagues, rivals, admirers and detractors, Jane Mulvagh has created a portrait as rich, distinctive and constantly surprising as her subject’s character and work.

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the life and work of activist, provocateur, and fashion icon, Vivienne Westwood. Vivienne Westwood spent more than five decades breaking the rules and pushing the envelope of the fashion world. Renowned for her rebellious spirit and avant-garde designs, Westwood lived a life dedicated to a free artistic expression that continues to redefine fashion and inspire generations worldwide. She gifted us countless iconic moments and designs, from her days at the Kings Road ‘SEX’ shop and wearing no knickers to receive her OBE from the Queen, to her trailblazing 90s runway collections and her tireless pursuit of social and climate justice. Beginning with her working-class upbringing and traversing through the McLaren years, her contributions to early punk culture, her most iconic collections and her activism, amongst more, Vivienne Westwood is a new illustrated guide to a true one-of-a-kind.

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the life and work of activist, provocateur, and fashion icon, Vivienne Westwood. Vivienne Westwood spent more than five decades breaking the rules and pushing the envelope of the fashion world. Renowned for her rebellious spirit and avant-garde designs, Westwood lived a life dedicated to a free artistic expression that continues to redefine fashion and inspire generations worldwide. She gifted us countless iconic moments and designs, from her days at the Kings Road ‘SEX’ shop and wearing no knickers to receive her OBE from the Queen, to her trailblazing 90s runway collections and her tireless pursuit of social and climate justice. Beginning with her working-class upbringing and traversing through the McLaren years, her contributions to early punk culture, her most iconic collections and her activism, amongst more, Vivienne Westwood is a new illustrated guide to a true one-of-a-kind.

Forty years of catwalk photography featuring seventy groundbreaking collections from the inimitable Vivienne Westwood--over 1,000 looks as they originally appeared in Westwood's iconic shows "The only reason I'm in fashion is to destroy the word 'conformity, '" Vivienne Westwood (b. 1941) declared early in her career. With her provocative synthesis of historic British fashion, classic painting aesthetics, and punk culture, the British designer has continuously revolutionized the fashion industry since her first catwalk collection, "Pirate," debuted in 1981. Opening with a concise history of the house and brief biographical profiles of Westwood and her longtime collaborator Andreas Kronthaler, this spectacular volume--the seventh in the celebrated Catwalk series--documents all of Westwood's catwalk collections from 1981 to today. Short texts illuminating each collection's highlights and influences are accompanied by carefully curated catwalk photographs showcasing hundreds of clothing ensembles, accessories, beauty looks, and set designs, along with the top fashion models who walked the runway, including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. With an extensive reference section, this lavishly illustrated volume provides unrivalled insight into one of the most thought-provoking and influential fashion designers in the world.

Forty years of catwalk photography featuring seventy groundbreaking collections from the inimitable Vivienne Westwood--over 1,000 looks as they originally appeared in Westwood's iconic shows "The only reason I'm in fashion is to destroy the word 'conformity, '" Vivienne Westwood (b. 1941) declared early in her career. With her provocative synthesis of historic British fashion, classic painting aesthetics, and punk culture, the British designer has continuously revolutionized the fashion industry since her first catwalk collection, "Pirate," debuted in 1981. Opening with a concise history of the house and brief biographical profiles of Westwood and her longtime collaborator Andreas Kronthaler, this spectacular volume--the seventh in the celebrated Catwalk series--documents all of Westwood's catwalk collections from 1981 to today. Short texts illuminating each collection's highlights and influences are accompanied by carefully curated catwalk photographs showcasing hundreds of clothing ensembles, accessories, beauty looks, and set designs, along with the top fashion models who walked the runway, including Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. With an extensive reference section, this lavishly illustrated volume provides unrivalled insight into one of the most thought-provoking and influential fashion designers in the world.