Vivienne Westwood black suede round toe pumps
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 39 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14023941353
Vivienne Westwood
For someone who regularly swatted away the industry that made her, audacious British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood certainly knew her way around a garment. And she knew how to provoke. “I don’t follow fashion,” Westwood once told the New York Times. “I’ve never been interested in it.” Collectors are certainly interested in her work, and vintage Vivienne Westwood dresses, handbags, lingerie and jackets have become very desirable over the years.
Westwood was born Vivienne Isabel Swire in a village in Derbyshire, in central England, but moved to London as a teen. In the early 1960s, she began to make her own necklaces and other jewelry and met an artist, activist and entrepreneur named Malcolm McLaren. They became involved romantically and she made clothes for him in the style of the Teddy Boys — the city’s music-crazed, occasionally violent teenagers at the time who wore high-waisted trousers and tailored velvet blazers that drew on Edwardian-era fashions.
Westwood and McLaren opened a vintage shop on King’s Road in London in 1971. The flared denim and peasant blouses of the 1960s, then still popular with the “peace and love” set, didn’t hold any weight for Westwood. Instead, she was interested in provocative, edgy apparel. She repaired used clothing and endeavored to create bold new designs from scratch.
Together Westwood and McLaren sold older rock-and-roll records, customized T-shirts with antiestablishment slogans, biker jackets and snug trousers inspired by the Marlon Brando film The Wild One as well as bondage fetish wear. The shop, once called Let It Rock and then Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die before Sex became a more appropriate moniker, evolved into a youth mecca. The DIY garments — zippered tops, burnt tees emblazoned with anarchist messages — flew off the shelves. More notably, it brought punk to the masses.
Westwood was soon dressing the Sex Pistols, a band that McLaren managed, all the while bridging the gap between music and fashion in a manner that has reverberated throughout the industry for decades.
In 1981, the couple’s first fashion show marked the debut of their Pirate collection — a swashbuckler-themed line that sprang from Westwood’s research into Indigenous Americans and the “power garments” of the Louis XIV era. The collection’s ample proportions and cutting-edge tailoring countered punk’s geometry and tight latex fits as well as what rocker Adam Ant called the “Puritanism” that plagued England at the time. The Pirate collection’s enduring influence on the world of fashion as well as the theatrical work of designers such as John Galliano and Alexander McQueen is undeniable.
For the colorful corsets of her 1990 Portrait collection, Westwood drew on 18th-century oil paintings — her models donned the pearl necklaces that have become a social media star and a favorite of influencers and fashion lovers all over the world. For a jacket-and-shorts suit from her Fall/Winter 1996–97 Storm in a Teacup line, the designer used the extreme asymmetry of a tartan mash-up to confront, according to Westwood, “the horror of uniformity and minimalism.”
The self-taught Westwood enjoyed a rapid ascent in fashion, with British society embracing her looks and Vogue immortalizing them in its glossy pages. She garnered accolades for introducing corsets to the runway and dressed Kate Moss and Helena Bonham Carter. And an original Vivienne Westwood wedding dress is featured in 2008’s Sex and the City film.
The fires of political and environmental activism burned brightly for Westwood: She was a Greenpeace ambassador, having designed the organization’s official “Save the Arctic” logo; her clothing brand is committed to using recycled canvas and other eco-friendly materials in the production process; and in 2020, she protested the extradition of Julian Assange by suspending herself in a bird cage outside London’s Old Bailey court. But she will always be the grande dame of British design.
Find an extraordinary range of vintage Vivienne Westwood shirts, shoes, gowns and other items today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Vivienne Westwood 'Cut, Slash & Pull' Open Toe High Sole Platforms, Circa 1991By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBcA Pair of Vivienne Westwood high-soled open toe platform shoes covered in black satin with regular cuts throughout the surface, 'Cut, Slash & Pull' collection, spring-summer 1991.Category
1990s British Shoes
- Alaia pony hair leopard print coat and boots ensemble, c. 2010By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in London, GBIntroducing an extraordinary Alaia pony hair leopard print coat and boots ensemble, a true statement of bold and luxurious style. This ensemble showcas...Category
2010s French Coats and Outerwear
- Martin Margiela black leather heeled pumps with sock boots, fw 1999By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in London, GBIntroducing the Martin Margiela Autumn-Winter 1999 shoes, a remarkable and innovative footwear creation from the avant-garde designer's iconic collection. Crafted from luxurious bla...Category
1990s Italian Shoes
- Hussein Chalayan Autumn-Winter 2002 black leather bondage shoes with metal heelBy Hussein ChalayanLocated in London, GBHussein Chalayan Autumn-Winter 2002 black leather shoes with metal heelCategory
Early 2000s British Shoes
- Gianni Versace black and gold Medusa silk platform sandals, S/S 1993By Gianni VersaceLocated in London, GBGianni Versace black silk platform sandals with bows and gold medusa coins. Velcro fastening. Spring-Summer 1993Category
1990s Italian Sandals
- Vivienne Westwood black leather and suede platformsBy Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood black leather and suede platforms ca. 1990-1996Category
1990s British Shoes
- new CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Louis Orlato black spike stud strass high top EU42By Christian LouboutinLocated in Hong Kong, NTnew CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Louis Orlato black spike stud strass high top EU42 Reference: TGAS/B01654 Brand: Christian Louboutin Design...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Celine Black Brogue Leather Tassel Slingback Sandals Size 40By CelineLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2A perfect blend of comfort and high-fashion, these Brogue leather sandals will sing in harmony with your style. The Céline sandals feature covered toes detailed with tassels and buck...Category
2010s Italian Brogues
- Celine Grey Nubuck Leather V Neck Pointed Toe Pumps Size 38.5By CelineLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2You are sure to fall head over heels in love with this pair of V Neck pumps from Celine. These stylish pumps will add a touch of elegance to any outfit. Crafted in Italy, they are ma...Category
2010s Italian Heels
- Prada Black Leather Loafers Size 45By PradaLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Combine style and simplicity into your looks by slipping on these black-hued Prada shoes. Durable and luxe, these loafers will enhance your outfits well. Meticulously crafted from le...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Jimmy Choo Dark Brown Leather Knee Boots Size 37.5By Jimmy ChooLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2A classic pair from Jimmy Choo to channel your inner fashionista and take your style soaring. They come excellently crafted from dark brown leather and designed with back zippers, co...Category
2010s Italian Boots
- Givenchy Black Leather Studded Strappy Ankle Boots Size 38By GivenchyLocated in Dubai, Al Qouz 2Let your luxe styling choices be evident as you wear these beauties from the House of Givenchy. These boots are made from black leather and accented with studded details on the strap...Category
2010s Italian Boots
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Vivienne Westwood’s Punk Spirit Lives On in This ’90s Tartan Ensemble
The shorts suit in a mash-up of patterns with an asymmetrical cut speaks to the designer’s rebellious spirit.
This Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen Ensemble Is Part Zsa Zsa Gabor, Part ‘Blade Runner’
As Burton steps away from the brand, it’s a fitting time to revisit one of her visionary designs.