One of Liverpool’s most iconic museums is currently paying tribute to the late British fashion icon Vivienne Westwood, with a brand-new display dedicated to her revolutionary style. Visitors will have the chance to admire some of her most famous creations until 18 October in the museum’s Craft & Design Gallery. There, 17 outfits are on display, representing 11 different Westwood collections dating from 1981 to 1994.
The captivating showcase honours a career that spanned more than five decades of extraordinary creativity. The exhibition highlights her remarkable work, from early designs inspired by the punk world to those that established her as one of the pillars of British fashion.
Visitors walking through the Craft & Design Gallery will discover how Westwood’s creative vision evolved over time, tracing her journey from the rebellious punk aesthetics of SEX – the legendary King’s Road shop she ran with Malcolm McLaren – to her later, highly sophisticated explorations of historical dress, global cultures and classic British tailoring.
The exposition – as reported on the museum’s website – “highlights include a grey wool ‘Koo tunic’ from the Witches Collection (1983-84) featuring artwork by Keith Haring, the iconic ‘Dunbar Suit’ in pink Gordon tartan from the Anglomania Collection (1993-94) once worn by Frankie Goes to Hollywood‘s Holly Johnson, and a black velvet suit from the Time Machine Collection (1988-89) gifted by Liverpool-born model Julie Bramwell”.
Westwood and McLaren collaborated for several years. When he became manager of the punk band the Sex Pistols, the pair designed the group members’ iconic looks. The band’s signature style was highly provocative and decidedly unique. It was recognizable for its striking BDSM-inspired fetishwear, ripped T-shirts, safety pins, DIY techniques and subversive political symbols that challenged conventional British society.
Vivienne Westwood’s importance was far from limited, creating looks for the Sex Pistols. During her long career, she directly influenced pop icons such as Adam Ant and Boy George. In the 1980s she revisited traditional British tailoring by studying historical garments and transforming them into avant-garde streetwear. By the 1990s and 2000s, Westwood had gained even greater fame in the fashion world. Her Anglomania and Time Machine collections were embraced by a wide range of celebrities, supermodels and cultural figures. Zendaya, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo are just some of the pop icons who have embraced Vivienne Westwood’s style at awards shows and other major events.
If you are visiting Liverpool this season, this exhibition is an absolute must-see to experience the legacy of a true fashion rebel at firsthand.
Where: Walker Art Gallery – William Brown St, Liverpool, United Kingdom, L3 8EL
When: now on display until 18 October
