Dame Vivienne Westwood's Most Iconic And Rebellious Fashion Moments
We journey through the archives of the late designer's 60-year career.
The fashion icon, eco pioneer and mother of punk Dame Vivienne Westwood has sadly passed away 'peacefully', aged 81, having enjoyed a six decade-long career that saw her change the way we dress – and think about fashion – forever. Here, we look back at some of the legendary designer's many iconic and fabulously rebellious fashion moments over the years, from going knicker-less at Buckingham Palace to Naomi Cambell's unforgettable runway fall.
'SEX' shop, 1976
Steve Jones, Alan Jones, Chrissie Hynde, Jordan and Vivienne Westwood at Westwood's iconic shop named 'SEX' on London's Kings Road.
London Fashion Week, October 1981
Vivienne Westwood made her London Fashion Week debut with her now-legendary 'Pirates' collection, created in collaboration with her then-partner, Malcolm McLaren.
Paris Fashion Week, 1990
Models kiss on the runway during Vivienne Westwood's 'Portrait' show that featured corset designs printed with 18th-century French paintings.
Buckingham Palace, 1992
Vivienne Westwood receiving her OBE from the Queen wearing no knickers is the perfect example of her signature punk-rock, anti-establishment spirit.
Paris Fashion Week, March 1993
Naomi Campbell trips on the runway during Vivienne Westwood's 1993 'Anglomania' show, wearing a pair of nine-inch Gillie heels that are now on display in the V&A.
Paris Fashion Week, October 1993
Kate Moss walks the runway for Vivienne Westwood's SS94 'Café Society' show topless and eating a Magnum ice-cream, wearing pink platform heels, a tiny skirt, a pearl necklace and Napoleon-style hat.
Paris Fashion Week, 1994
Carla Bruni wears a faux-fur coat with matching bikini G-string for Vivienne Westwood's AW94 show.
Paris Fashion Week, 1994
Naomi Campbell models in the Vivienne Westwood AW94 'On Liberty' fashion show in Paris, wearing a corseted tartan dress, head piece and argyle-pattern leg-warmers.
Paris Fashion Week, March 1995
Kate Moss hit the runway for Vivienne Westwood's 1995-6 'Vive La Cocotte' collection show carrying a white fluffy Angora bunny rabbit.
'Sex & The City: The Movie', 2008
Vivienne Westwood hit the big screen and became the ultimate bridal go-to when Carrie Bradshaw picked a larger-than-life corseted design for her ill-fated wedding to Mr Big.
Paris Fashion Week, March 2009
Pamela Anderson hits the runway for Vivienne Westwood's AW09 show.
London Fashion Week, September 2012
Westwood took to the runway to close her Red Label SS13 show, wearing a pair of hot-pants and a T-shirt calling for a climate revolution.
'Fash Mob', September 2015
Vivienne Westwood staged an epic 'Fash Mob' on the streets of London ahead of her SS16 Red Label show, featuring models carrying placards that read 'Climate Revolution', 'Austerity Is A Crime' and 'Politicians Are Criminals'.
Paris Fashion Week, February 2020
Bella Hadid models a sheer white lace wedding dress in Vivienne Westwood's AW20-21 show.
Protesting at the Old Bailey, July 2020
Dame Vivienne Westwood staged a memorable protest outside the Old Bailey, dressed in head-to-toe yellow inside a gigantic birdcage to make a statement against Julian Assange's illegal extradition to the US.
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
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