Vivienne Westwood is known for bringing her modern punk, new-wave styles to the mainstream. She pioneered avant-garde styles and user her art as a tool of activism. She took traditional English fashion, fabric and tailoring but modernized it in her own unique way.
Another example of Westwood’s desire to revamp older styles and silhouettes is her use of corsets and bustiers. These redesigns were a symbol of feminine power. She changed the connotation of these garments from ones rarely exposed under layers of fabric to provocative statements..
Vivienne Westwood made it a point to design some eccentric footwear. She created classics that made top models take a tumble on catwalks, like the “Super Elevated Gillie Platforms” pictured above. Her designs always forced those watching to consider older, historical silhouettes and deviate from the norm.
Westwood was known for outspoken voice for the environment and human rights. She channeled some of that same energy into her garments. These pieces featured provocative slogans and even got her into hot water at times.