The rebellious, irreverent, fairy godmother of punk]
[Considered one of the most unconventional and outspoken fashion designers in the world, Westwood rose to fame in the late 1970s when her early designs helped shape the look of the punk rock movement.]
1. She came from humble beginnings, working-class parents. As Vivienne would later recall, her childhood years were far from London's high life. By the early 1960s Vivienne's life seemed established, embarked on work as a teacher. Then, however, everything changed. Her first marriage dissolved and she met Malcolm McLaren, an art student and future manager of the Sex Pistols. Through her new partner, Westwood, who'd begun making jewelry on the side, was introduced to a new world of creative freedom and the power art had on the political landscape. “I latched onto Malcolm as somebody who opened doors for me," Westwood said.”
2. In 1971, McLaren opened a boutique shop at 430 Kings Road in London and started filling it with Westwood's designs. It proved to be an important fashion center for the punk movement. When McLaren became manager of the Sex Pistols, it was Westwood's designs that dressed the band and help it carve out its identity. But as the punk movement faded, Westwood was hardly content to rest on her laurels. She's constantly been ahead of the curve, not just influencing fashion, but often times dictating it. After her run with the Sex Pistols, Westwood went an entirely new direction with her Pirate collection of frilly shirts and other attire. Her styles have also included the mini-crini of the 1980s and the frayed tulle and tweed suit of the 1990s. She's even proved it's perfectly possible to make a subversive statement with underwear.
3. Coupled with Westwood's unconventional style sense, is an outspokenness and daring that demonstrates a certain level of fearlessness about her and her work. Still, Westwood's influence is hard to deny. Twice she has been named British designer of the year and was awarded the O.B.E. (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1992. In 1993, ten years after Westwood and McLaren split, Westwood married for a second time, to her assistant, Andreas Kronthaler, who is 25 years her junior. Today, Kronthaler is her design partner.