Vivienne Westwood, the British fashion maverick and punk icon, has died at 81. Westwood, who was born in Derbyshire, England, was a key figure in the punk movement, revolutionizing urban street style in the 1970s with her radical approach to fashion. She made the transition from punk to haute couture without missing a beat, keeping her career going without stooping to self-caricature. Westwood was an outspoken advocate for the planet, often promoting quality over quantity when it came to fashion consumption. She was also a beloved character who energized and pushed the boundaries of the fashion industry until her death.
Westwood studied old tailoring techniques and subverted them, an approach later imitated by other British designers like John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. She introduced the mini-crini (combining the tutu and Victorian crinoline), flesh-colored tights with modesty fig leaves and signature corsetry worn as outerwear; she designed frocks for women with breasts and hips (ask Nigella Lawson or Marion Cotillard, who both wore Westwood to dramatic affect).
Westwood was a national treasure in Britain, and her clothes ranged from fetishistic bondage gear to massive platform shoes and slogan T-shirts. She used her elite position to lobby for environmental reforms even as she kept her hair dyed the bright shade of orange that became her trademark. The Vivienne Foundation, a not-for-profit company, founded by Westwood, her sons & granddaughter in late 2022, will officially launch next year. Vivienne Westwood will be remembered for her iconic fashion designs, her influence on the punk movement, and her commitment to environmental causes.
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