Viviennes Westwood’s first ever catwalk
collection was performed 1981 in London.
This collection was collaboration with also English close designer Malcolm
Mclauren and was inspired by history and the third world. (The early years) After this she worked alone which she thinks is
the best way to work, however she learns a lot from other people (interview,
2008)
Pirate outfit, 1981
After the Pirate collection, Vivienne
became “The Queen of the new flow” and in 1984 she has the collection “The
world’s end” which made her known for being popular by the young crowd because
she specialized in clothing that defined the punk movement, which was very big
in the early 80s. When speaking of
the collection Vivienne says that she tried to combine punk with a little bit
of Kung Fu and a little bit of Karate, however it does not seem something she
does consciously but she realises it after making her clothes. (VW presents worlds end, 2012)
slowdown for worlds end, n.d
The
fashion show was made up by dancing models, in a mixture made up by dark and
bright colours, winter and summer accessories and heaps of layers. This fashion
show, like her others is fun and up speed and never dull. In her other fashion collections she is
always inspired by the historical of her home country England and she also
believes that “fashion is a parody, and should always be theatrical” (interview, 2008) which is something
that her fashion shows always are. This year, she had a collection at London fashion show and it
was another of her bold and fascinating shows. She uses face paint and bright
colours on the models that make them look very powerful. When asking her about
her idea of how women should look like she says that they should always look
very important. (interview, 2008)
London fashion week, 2012
Her collections also always means something,
for example in 2007 the collection “I am expensive” was about the gap between
fashion and a poverty plagued world and “the world’s end” was about questioning
what is considered good and bad in the world of fashion. (VW
presents worlds end, 2012) In
an interview in 1987 Vivienne talks about how she cares about changing this
idea, “Fashion always talks about
culture, and a lot of things people think is good, I think is bad” She uses
historical references from England because she believes that England is a
country that does not want to change, however fashion is a way of doing it for
them. “Everyone is born with ultimate potential, hope in life is to top that
potential and that is something you can do through fashion” (interview, 2008)
Vivienne Westwood’s fashion shows all have
a very special style and when looking at many of them, you can see a pattern in
them. They all have: Fun models, a
lot of interesting make up and of course original fashion. She believes a lot
in “recycling clothing” (show/interview, 2011) but it does not make her fashion
repetitive at all, it just makes it her own.
References
Vivienne
Westwood: The early years, n.d, viewed 29 October
2012
<http://www.viviennewestwood.co.uk/w/the-story/the-early-years>
<http://www.viviennewestwood.co.uk/w/the-story/the-early-years>
Vivienne
Westwood: interview, 2008, viewed 29 October 2012
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iws_u0mJztI>
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iws_u0mJztI>
Vivienne
Westwood presents Worlds End, 2012, viewed 29
October 2012
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nI3mcuzak0>
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nI3mcuzak0>
Show/interview, 2011, viewed 29 October 2012
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ3L0shnXoU >
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ3L0shnXoU >
Images
Pirate
outfit, 1981, Image, viewed 29 October 2012
<http://www.rmg.co.uk/upload/img_400/subversionImgLOA647.jpg>
<http://www.rmg.co.uk/upload/img_400/subversionImgLOA647.jpg>
Vivienne
Westwood, London fashion week 2012, 2012, image,
viewed 29 October 2012
<http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/16/article-0-150BC9AC000005DC-144_310x783.jpg>
<http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/09/16/article-0-150BC9AC000005DC-144_310x783.jpg>
1983: Slowdown for worlds end,n.d image,
viewed 29 October 2012
<http://shapersofthe80s.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/f83oct-wea31jdvw-dj.jpg?w=500 >
<http://shapersofthe80s.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/f83oct-wea31jdvw-dj.jpg?w=500 >
