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The Legacy of Vivienne Westwood

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    Before Designing/Early Life

  • Date of Birth

    Date of Birth
    Vivienne Westwood was born to Dave and Gordon Swire in Tintwistle, United Kingdom on April 8, 1941.
  • Early Education

    Early Education
    Vivienne attended Glossop Grammer School and trained to be a grammer treacher, she then studied at the Harrow School of Art and University of Westminster, taking courses for silver-smithing and fashion, but ended up leaving after one term.
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    First Marriage and Job

    Vivienne was a schoolteacher and married formerly before her designing job.
  • Derek Westwood

    Derek Westwood
    Vivienne married her first husband Derek Westwood in 1962. He was a Hoover factor apprentice.
  • First Child

    First Child
    While married to Derek, they had a son together, Benjamin Westwood, born in 1963.
  • Malcolm McLauren

    Malcolm McLauren
    Vivienne met McLauren in 1965, he was an art student. They ended up getting married and he influenced Vivienne into designing clothes.
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    Start of the Fashion Era / The Sex Pistols

    The beginning of Vivienne's designs.
  • "Let It Rock"

    "Let It Rock"
    "Let It Rock" was the first shop they had opened, it would continue to be renamed after each line released. One of its most popular renamed names is "Sex."
  • The Sex Pistols

    The Sex Pistols
    Vivienne and Malcolm had formed the band with the shop. The band members were all former employees or customers of their shops. Westwood had designed all of their stage outfits for each member.
  • "God Save the Queen"

    "God Save the Queen"
    The Sex Pistols song, "God Save the Queen" charted at number one on the singles chart. This started the name of the aesthetic "punk rock."
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    Her Legacy

  • Pirates

    Pirates
    Pirates was Westwoods first collaborative collection, and one of her last moments with Malcolm. This catalog gave her the spotlight and door to fame.
  • Time Machine

    Time Machine
    Vivienne's most famous collection called Time Machine had broken the fashion industry.
  • OBE

    OBE
    Queen Elizabeth II awarded Westwood for her the OBE contribute to the fashion industry.
  • Naomi Campbell Runway

    Naomi Campbell Runway
    Naomi Campbell famously stumbled in Westwoods 9 inch heels. This left an impact on the industry, constantly asking Naomi to fall for other labels and companies runways.
  • The Wedding Dress

    One of Vivienne's wedding dresses appeared in the show, "Sex in the City." This started the popularity and admiration for her wedding dress line.
  • Passing of Westwood

    Passing of Westwood
    Vivienne Westwood passed away on December 29, 2022. Even during her funeral, the punk rock inspiration was shown and displayed with guests. She will forever be remembered as the inventor of punk.