Vivienne Westwood contextual study
Vivienne Westwood began her career in the seventies when in 1971 she opened ‘Let It Rock’ with husband Malcolm McLaren on king’s road London. A once primary school teacher now saw herself as a fashion designer leading the way in innovative trends.
The shop began as let it rock but It would soon make way for its now ego, Sex. Sex was completely different from the beige fashions of the time it offered an oasis of black materials, and it became acceptable to wear a rubber suit. The interior was sprayed with pornographic graffiti, hung with rubber curtains and stocked with sex and fetish wear.
The 1980’s saw Margret thatcher at the helm of Britain’s government Margret thatcher was quoted in saying that “fashion is important because it raises the quality of life when people take the trouble to dress and it also provides employment for many many people.” However despite her widespread support of fashion Margret thatcher did not see Punk on the horizon. Punk was an all too evocative expression of the economic stagnation and rising unemployment of Margret Thatcher’s Britain. Margret Thatcher can be said to be one of the most controversial prime ministers Britain has ever seen. A fierce conservative Thatcher became Britain’s first female prime minister in 1979. She was an advocate of privatising state-owned industries and utilities, reforming trade unions, lowering taxes and reducing social expenditure across the board. This left a large amount of public discontent and anxiety. This was soon reflected in anti-establishment fashion: punk.
The 1980’s bought about the trend punk; the word punk was used by Shakespeare and is one of the many synonyms for prostitute and In North American slang it means inferior or worthless. If Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren did not invent the word, they are certainly credited with the invention of the style. Their shop now operated under the name The Seditionaries. The punk’s belief system is essentially nihilistic, with despairing cry of “no future!” as its rallying call. Punks countered the love and dyed-hippie culture, which itself was a revolt against the previous generation. Punk was worn by those who considered themselves “outsiders” in the community and began in the art scene of London. However this exclusive rebellious fashion quickly trickled down in to the main stream and tartans and piercings were commonplace.
izzy806
tangentwithtanner
prguitarman
ellievsbear
snowghoul