Icon, rebel, and fashion royalty, Dame Vivienne Westwood has passed away at 81 years old.
Westwood died on 29 December, “peacefully and surrounded by her family in Clapham, South London”, according to an official statement on social media.
The statement further reads:
“Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better. She led an amazing life. Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.”
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Westwood’s career
Before she became a legend whose work was synonymous with rattling and inspiring the cage of high fashion in the same breath, Westwood was a teacher.
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1970s
Still, she had an affinity for design. Her humble beginnings in the fashion world back in the early 70s were deliciously taboo. Teaming up with Malcolm McLaren, a ‘punkist’ era for fashion was in the making with their tiny shop, initially dubbed ‘Let It Rock’. Westwood went solo in 1983 after the pair went their separate ways.
1980s
During the 1980s, Westwood’s brand expanded, transformed, and merged worlds. The 19th century reimagined in mini form was a huge part of her aesthetic, as her clothes became boldly feminine with an edge, of course.
1990s
She and Andreas Kronthaler married in 1992, in whatMarie Périer described as a union that was a “creative and romantic accomplishment, after adding that “Westwood fell for 22-year old Andreas Kronthaler and his Renaissance-style gowns.”
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The 1990s earmarked a power decade for Westwood. The Anglomania’Collection had taken the world by storm, the 9-inch platform heels that made Naomi Campbell topple were all the talk, Westwood had been named British Designer of the Year in 1990, and not too long after, she was honoured as Officer of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen for her work in the arts.
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2000s and beyond
The 2000s saw Westwood expand East, her Home Collection take off, and a new name earned (Westwood was chosen to be a ‘Dame’ in 2006).
In the 2010s onward, her focus turned to activism—from supporting NGOs, campaigns, environmental activism and social upliftment.
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A sustainable trailblazer, she famously said, “Buy less, choose well, make it last. Quality rather than quantity: That is true sustainability. If people only bought beautiful things rather than rubbish, we wouldn’t have climate change!”
Throughout her career, she wholeheartedly challenged narratives, championed questioning, strived to “protect the underdog”, and was one of the first to do so in bold, through fashion.
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Feature Image: Juergen Teller
