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Vivienne Westwood Photography

British, 1941-2022

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.

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Creator: Vivienne Westwood
Signed Naomi Campbell for Vivienne Westwood Large Format Polaroid Photo, 2008
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in London, GB
A large format Polaroid of Naomi Campbell for the Vivienne Westwood Active Resistance limited edition book produced by Opus. Signed by Naomi Campbell and photographer Zenon Texeira in marker pen. Taken for the Vivienne Westwood Active Resistance Opus Limited Edition Book, which features 97 life size reproductions of these original photos. The photos were shown in various venues on a world wide tour to promote the book. One of them being the Serpantine Gallery in London. This is the actual one off Large Format Polaroid Photo taken on one of three of these camera in existence which are soon to be obsolete because no more of the photographic paper can be made. Polaroids Each Opus is characterised by a gallery section of stunning portraits taken on the rare Polaroid 20 x 24 Studio camera. The camera was brought from Prague to Paris and London for three separate photo shoots for The Official Vivienne Westwood Opus. Featuring Vivienne Westwood’s family and friends wearing clothes from her stunning collections, 97 selected Polaroids, shot by Zenon Texeira in black-and-white, colour and sepia, are displayed full-size in the Opus. At Serpentine’s Manifesto Marathon in 2008, Westwood presented her 22-page manifesto Active Resistance to Propaganda. Read by a multitude of characters, the manifesto is a meditation on the relationship between art and climate change and a critique of consumption and capitalism. “Dear friends. We all love art, and some of you claim to be artists…’ But, she wouldn’t have written the manifesto today,” she says. “I wrote it a couple of years ago. A few months ago it hit me. We absolutely must save the rainforests. Have we really got time to be art lovers?” Manifesto Marathon, the third in the Serpentine Gallery’s acclaimed series of Marathon events, took place in the closing weekend of the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2008, designed by Frank Gehry. The Manifesto Marathon came at a time when artists had begun to work less in formal groups and defined artistic movements. It showcased a new generation of artists alongside practitioners from the worlds of literature, design, science, philosophy, music and film who were returning to the historical notion of the manifesto. The Manifesto Marathon drew on the Serpentine Gallery’s close proximity to Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, which has been used as a platform by Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, George Orwell and William Morris, among many others. Participants of the Manifesto Marathon included: Vivienne Westwood, Pier Vittorio Aureli, Hilary Koob-Sassen, Ingo Niermann & Zak Kyes, Rasheed Araeen, Peter Cook, Richard Wentworth, Gilbert & George, Ben Vautier, Jonas Mekas, Jean-Jacques Lebel, Tom Mccarthy, Mark Wallinger, Yoko Ono, Barbara Steveni, Ekaterina Degot, Raqs media collective, Nathaniel Mellors, Lee Scrivner, Andrea Branzi, Henry Flynt, Marina Abramovic, Agnès Varda, Susan Hefuna, Stephen Willats, Falke Pisano, Adam Pendleton, Jimmie Durham...
Category

Early 2000s English Modern Vivienne Westwood Photography

Materials

Paper

Signed Bob Geldoff for Vivienne Westwood Large Format Polaroid Photo, 2008
By Vivienne Westwood
Located in London, GB
A large format polaroid of Bob Geldoff & Jeanne Marine for the Vivienne Westwood Active Resistance limited edition book produced by Opus. Photographer Zenon Texeira. Signed by Bob Geldoff & Jeanne Marine in marker pen. Taken for the Vivienne Westwood Active Resistance Opus Limited Edition Book, which features 97 life size reproductions of these original photos. The photos were shown in various venues on a world wide tour to promote the book. One of them being the Serpantine Gallery in London. This is the actual one off Large Format Polaroid Photo taken on one of three of these camera in existence which are soon to be obsolete because no more of the photographic paper can be made. Polaroids Each Opus is characterised by a gallery section of stunning portraits taken on the rare Polaroid 20 x 24 Studio camera. The camera was brought from Prague to Paris and London for three separate photo shoots for The Official Vivienne Westwood Opus. Featuring Vivienne Westwood’s family and friends wearing clothes from her stunning collections, 97 selected Polaroids, shot by Zenon Texeira in black-and-white, colour and sepia, are displayed full-size in the Opus. At Serpentine’s Manifesto Marathon in 2008, Westwood presented her 22-page manifesto Active Resistance to Propaganda. Read by a multitude of characters, the manifesto is a meditation on the relationship between art and climate change and a critique of consumption and capitalism. “Dear friends. We all love art, and some of you claim to be artists…’ But, she wouldn’t have written the manifesto today,” she says. “I wrote it a couple of years ago. A few months ago it hit me. We absolutely must save the rainforests. Have we really got time to be art lovers?” Manifesto Marathon, the third in the Serpentine Gallery’s acclaimed series of Marathon events, took place in the closing weekend of the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2008, designed by Frank Gehry. The Manifesto Marathon came at a time when artists had begun to work less in formal groups and defined artistic movements. It showcased a new generation of artists alongside practitioners from the worlds of literature, design, science, philosophy, music and film who were returning to the historical notion of the manifesto. The Manifesto Marathon drew on the Serpentine Gallery’s close proximity to Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, which has been used as a platform by Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, George Orwell and William Morris, among many others. Participants of the Manifesto Marathon included: Vivienne Westwood, Pier Vittorio Aureli, Hilary Koob-Sassen, Ingo Niermann & Zak Kyes, Rasheed Araeen, Peter Cook, Richard Wentworth, Gilbert & George, Ben Vautier, Jonas Mekas, Jean-Jacques Lebel, Tom Mccarthy, Mark Wallinger, Yoko Ono, Barbara Steveni, Ekaterina Degot, Raqs media collective, Nathaniel Mellors, Lee Scrivner, Andrea Branzi, Henry Flynt, Marina Abramovic, Agnès Varda, Susan Hefuna, Stephen Willats, Falke Pisano, Adam Pendleton, Jimmie Durham...
Category

Early 2000s English Modern Vivienne Westwood Photography

Materials

Paper

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Vivienne Westwood photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Vivienne Westwood photography are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Vivienne Westwood photography, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original photography by Vivienne Westwood were created in the modern style in united kingdom during the 21st century and contemporary. Prices for Vivienne Westwood photography can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,670 and can go as high as $5,118, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,394.
Questions About Vivienne Westwood Photography
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To tell if a Vivienne Westwood bag is real, check for the plate. Each bag will feature a plate with an inscription of the brand. Look to see that the plate features crisp and evenly spaced lettering. Continue examining the bag to look for any stitching flaws or asymmetrical details. A true Vivienne Westwood bag will be flawless. Always purchase Vivienne Westwood bags from a reputable seller to ensure authenticity. Shop a large collection of Vivienne Westwood bags from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To change the battery on a Vivienne Westwood watch, you will need a specialized tool to take the case back off. To avoid potentially damaging your luxury timepiece, a professional watchmaker can change the battery stress-free. You can find vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Many Vivienne Westwood bags are made in Italy. That information is noted on a plate within the bag, which is one way to authenticate a Vivienne Westwood bag. However, in 2014 the brand introduced a line of ethical bags that do not contain leather. These bags are made in South Africa in Nairobi, Kenya. Shop a collection of vintage and new Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The Mini Melissa shoe is made by the company Grendene and is considered a pioneer in the design and development of high-end plastic footwear. The designs that this brand is getting recognized are made in collaboration with some top luxury brand names, including Vivienne Westwood. But the Vivienne Westwood brand does not own the Mini Melissa and it is not the only brand contributing design ideas. Shop a collection of vintage and new Vivienne Westwood shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    No, Vivienne Westwood does not offer a student discount on its designs. If you’re looking for a discount or a sale on Vivienne Westwood clothing, shoes, and accessories, following them on social media may help as it sometimes offers discounts to loyal followers. Shop a collection of vintage and new Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes and no. Vivienne Westwood has a collection of handbags that are made of genuine leather and produced in Italy. The brand also has a collection of ethical handbags that are not made of animal products and these bags are produced in South Africa. Shop a collection of vintage and new Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The Vivienne Westwood font is Raphael. It is an art nouveau style, reminiscent of ‘70s retro, published by Monotype Imaging Inc. On 1stDibs, you can find vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and shoes from some of the top boutiques around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Vivienne Westwood is a British fashion designer who entered the scene in 1971 and quickly grew in popularity. She is known for being outspoken, edgy and unconventional. Her designs and cutting-edge style in the 1970s shaped the look of the punk rock movement, taking runway and streetwear fashion in a different direction. You’ll find a large collection of Vivienne Westwood from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Vivienne Westwood’s style has been described as punk, new wave, new romantic and more. She was the embodiment of the punk fashion movement in the 1970s, inspiring the likes of the Sex Pistols. You can find vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To ensure the authenticity of your Vivienne Westwood T-shirt, check that the brand tag is an off-white embroidered tag stitched to the garment on the top left and top right corners. The logo and name also appear on the care instructions tag. Be sure to also check that any graphic is printed crisp and clean and that the hem is evenly double-stitched. You can also find expertly vetted vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 29, 2024
    Many shops sell Vivienne Westwood jewelry. The iconic brand’s necklaces, rings, bracelets and other accessories are available for purchase in its boutiques, which can be found in London, Los Angeles, Beijing, Milan and elsewhere.

    Vivienne Westwood jewelry is also available from the brand’s retail partners, including at department stores in the United States such as Nordstrom. For information on the physical store locations, consult the brand’s official website.

    Vintage Vivienne Westwood jewelry is available for purchase through multiple e-commerce platforms, including 1stDibs, which has a team of industry experts working to thoroughly evaluate all sellers and makers, so that its listings are high quality and offered by experienced professionals.

  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Your Vivienne Westwood rubber shoes will come with care instructions that will detail how to care for your high-fashion footwear. Be sure to follow the instructions to help prolong your footwear’s life. You can find vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To open your Vivienne Westwood watch, you need a special watch tool to take the case back off. To avoid potentially damaging your luxury timepiece, a professional watchmaker can make any fixes you need. On 1stDibs, you can find vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood designs from some of the top boutiques around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Herald Group subsidiary Zeon Limited is responsible for manufacturing, marketing and distributing watches under the Vivienne Westwood brand. This agreement began in 2011 when the brand rolled out its watch line. Zeon Limited manufactures watches for many different brands. It is the UK’s largest distributor and importer of timepieces. Shop a collection of vintage and new Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 14, 2024
    What Vivienne Westwood’s logo means has to do with the past as well as the future. She had both tradition and innovation in mind when she created the logo for her pioneering fashion brand in the mid-1980s. For what became known as “the Orb,” Westwood drew on prominent symbols associated with the British monarchy such as the orb from the Crown Jewels (the past) as well as images from outer space (the future). For the latter, which takes on the form of Saturn’s rings in the logo, Westwood mined images from astronomy magazines. Dubbed “the undisputed Queen of British fashion” by musician Boy George, the acclaimed designer bridged the gap between music and fashion in a manner that has reverberated for decades. Find vintage Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024
    Vivienne Westwood is so popular for several reasons. Dubbed “the undisputed Queen of British fashion” by musician Boy George, the acclaimed late British designer bridged the gap between music and fashion in a manner that has reverberated for decades. Today, the label is beloved for its long history of imaginative, unique designs. Many celebrities sport Vivienne Westwood pieces. Among them are Kim Kardashian, Thandiwe Newton, Salma Hayek, Gigi Hadid, Kate Hudson and Halsey. In recent years, social media influencers have introduced the luxury brand to a new generation of fashionistas. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Vivienne Westwood apparel and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 20, 2024
    Vivienne Westwood was a pioneering British fashion designer and activist.

    Dubbed “the undisputed Queen of British fashion” by musician Boy George, the acclaimed late designer bridged the gap between music and fashion in a manner that has reverberated for decades. Today, her namesake label is beloved for its long history of imaginative, unique designs.

    Many celebrities sport Vivienne Westwood pieces. Among them are Kim Kardashian, Thandiwe Newton, Salma Hayek, Gigi Hadid, Kate Hudson and Halsey. In recent years, social media influencers have introduced the luxury brand to a new generation of fashionistas.

    Westwood was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1992 and was made a Dame in 2006. The award-winning designer died in 2022.

    On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Vivienne Westwood apparel and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Vivienne Westwood was born in Tintwistle and when she was 17, moved to Harrow in the country of Middlesex. After her first marriage ended, she moved to Balham and opened a boutique in London. For many years she lived in a flat in Clapham, until 2000 when her second husband convinced her to move to a Clapham house that once belonged to Captain Cook’s mother. You’ll find a large collection of Vivienne Westwood from many of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 20, 2024
    The Vivienne Westwood brand is strongly committed to sustainable practices. There is an extensive section on the brand’s official website that outlines the various and wide-ranging efforts that the company has made over the years to support sustainable business practices. These efforts include how the brand sources materials, how its products are packaged, which materials are used in the production of its apparel and accessories, where its manufacturing takes place, and more. Find Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 20, 2024
    Where Vivienne Westwood products are made varies. Per the official Vivienne Westwood website, three-quarters of the global fashion brand’s manufacturing and sourcing is managed through a hub in Milan, Italy. Twenty-five percent of the company’s supply chain is managed through its headquarters in London.

    The majority of the suppliers managed through Vivienne Westwood’s hub in Milan are located in Italy, followed by Turkey, Portugal, Tunisia and Kenya. The suppliers managed through the brand’s London hub are located in Thailand and the UK, with one manufacturer located in Hong Kong.

    The company’s Made in Kenya collections have been supported by Artisan Fashion, an organization that manages relationships between clients and community groups of artisans in Kenya by way of a production hub in Nairobi.

    Find vintage Vivienne Westwood clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 20, 2024
    You can buy Vivienne Westwood clothing and accessories directly from the global fashion brand’s official website. You can also search for a store location near you by using the site’s “store locator” function. Find vintage Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and shoes from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
    Vivienne Westwood studied at the Harrow School of Art in Harrow, UK, and at the University of Westminster in London.

    She took courses in both fashion design and silversmithing. However, she did not stay at either institution long enough to earn a degree. In the early 1960s, she began to make her own necklaces and other jewelry and met artist, activist and entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren. She made clothes for him in the style of the Teddy Boys, the city's music-crazed, occasionally violent teenagers 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, and eventually, Westwood produced and sold her own pieces at the store, marking the start of her work as a designer.

    Shop a selection of Vivienne Westwood apparel, jewelry and accessories on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
    One of Vivienne Westwood's signature designs is the Orb, which the British fashion house frequently incorporates into jewelry, such as necklaces and rings. That motif has also appeared on the chests of polo shirts and dresses produced by the brand. Many Vivienne Westwood tops and dresses also show off the designer's signature gathering and draping techniques. Another element frequently featured in pieces created by the luxury brand is tartan plaid fabric. On 1stDibs, explore an assortment of Vivienne Westwood pieces.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 29, 2024
    You can buy Vivienne Westwood jewelry directly from Vivienne Westwood boutiques as well as through authorized retailers. For physical store locations, consult the brand’s website. There are official Vivienne Westwood stores in London, Los Angeles, Beijing, Milan and elsewhere.

    Vintage Vivienne Westwood jewelry is available for purchase through multiple platforms, including 1stDibs.

    Audacious British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood initially began her career in jewelry, creating necklaces, brooches and other accessories in the early 1960s. Decades later, long after she found herself dressing the Sex Pistols and bridging the gap between music and fashion in a manner that has reverberated throughout the industry for years, Westwood gained recognition for her venturesome work with pearls, upending the legacy of an object that has been synonymous with ladylike elegance since the Tudor period.

    Find vintage Vivienne Westwood jewelry for sale on 1stDibs.

  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023
    Yes, Vivienne Westwood necklaces may tarnish if they're made out of sterling silver or brass. These metals can react with chemicals in chlorine, skin and hair care products and perfumes, leading to discoloration. The likelihood of tarnishing can be lowered by applying beauty products before putting on jewelry and allowing the skin to dry completely before wearing jewelry. Also, avoid showering, bathing or swimming with a necklace on to minimize tarnishing. On 1stDibs, find a range of Vivienne Westwood jewelry.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023
    Why your Vivienne Westwood necklace is rusting may be due to something it was exposed to. Sterling silver can tarnish, rust or corrode due to chlorine, seawater and chemicals found in soaps, body washes, perfumes, lotions and other skin care and beauty products. Discoloration doesn't just occur with Vivienne Westwood jewelry. It can happen to any necklace made out of sterling silver. You can reduce the risk of tarnishing by removing your jewelry before you bathe, swim and apply body lotion and other products. Following the care instructions provided by Vivienne Westwood can also help to keep your necklace looking like new. On 1stDibs, explore a selection of Vivienne Westwood jewelry.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 20, 2024
    Vivienne Westwood was made a Dame in 2006. The pioneering fashion designer was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1992. Shop vintage Vivienne Westwood clothing and accessories from some of the top boutiques around the world on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023
    To determine why your Vivienne Westwood necklace is tarnishing, consider how you wear and care for it. The sterling silver and brass metals used to produce many pieces of Vivienne Westwood jewelry can tarnish or become discolored when exposed to chlorine and ingredients commonly used in perfumes, skin care products and hair care products. Acid from a person's skin may also cause tarnishing in some cases. To reduce the risk of tarnishing, allow your skin to dry completely after applying toiletries, and don't wear your necklace in the shower, tub or pool. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Vivienne Westwood jewelry.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023
    Yes, Vivienne Westwood jewelry can last when properly cared for and stored, thanks to its quality craftsmanship. The brand's sterling silver and brass pieces can tarnish. It's important to allow perfumes and skin care products to dry before wearing jewelry and to take jewelry off before showering or swimming. Explore a selection of Vivienne Westwood jewelry on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023
    The most iconic Vivienne Westwood necklace is arguably the pearl Orb Necklace. It features the brand's orb logo set with crystals and glass-based Swarovski pearls. You'll also see the orb logo incorporated into other necklaces like the Luzia, the Amanda, the Viviana and the Kitty. Find a range of Vivienne Westwood jewelry on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 20, 2024
    The Vivienne Westwood brand is owned by Latimo S.A., a company based in Luxembourg. Dubbed “the undisputed Queen of British fashion” by musician Boy George, acclaimed designer Dame Vivienne Westwood bridged the gap between music and fashion in a manner that has reverberated for decades. On 1stDibs, you can find vintage Vivienne Westwood bags, clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    You can clean a Vivienne Westwood necklace by using a soft toothbrush and a tiny amount of soap in warm water. To prevent the oxidation of your jewelry, avoid fragrances and salts near your luxury piece. Be sure to reference the care instructions that accompanied your jewelry. You can find vintage and contemporary Vivienne Westwood clothing and accessories from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 20, 2024
    Vivienne Westwood’s influence on fashion is deep and broad-ranging.

    Westwood was only in her early 20s when she was creating jewelry in London during the 1960s, and her career in fashion began to take shape in the 1970s. She was quickly recognized for her unconventional and edgy approach, and opened a vintage shop with like-minded artist Malcolm McLaren.

    Westwood found herself at the forefront of punk rock, and as the culture gained steam and its musicians rose to fame, so too did her preference for checkered prints, biker styles and provocative messaging. Her work became the look of punk and she was soon dressing members of the Sex Pistols.

    The first Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren show marked the debut of the Pirate Collection, a swashbuckler-themed line that sprang from Westwood’s research into Indigenous Americans and the “power garments” of the Louis XIV era (this collection heavily influenced the likes of John Galliano and Alexander McQueen). For the colorful corsets of her 1990 Portrait collection, Westwood drew on 18th-century oil paintings, and 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.

    Dubbed “the undisputed Queen of British fashion” by musician Boy George, the acclaimed, award-winning late designer bridged the gap between music and fashion in a manner that has reverberated for decades. Today, her namesake label is beloved for its long history of imaginative, unique designs.

    Find vintage Vivienne Westwood clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    No, the Vivienne Westwood logo is not a cross. However, there is a cross motif included in the logo design. The British designer had both tradition and innovation in mind when she created the logo for her pioneering fashion brand in the mid-1980s. For what became known as “the Orb,” Westwood drew on prominent symbols associated with the British monarchy, such as the orb from the Crown Jewels (the past) as well as images from outer space (the future). On 1stDibs, explore a range of Vivienne Westwood apparel and accessories.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    There are a few things to check to authenticate a Vivienne Westwood pearl necklace. Using the mini bas-relief choker as an example, the ball clasp between the orb and the pearls should be spherical, with no flat edges. The crystals should also be neatly set in place. If you notice any rough edges or a pearl looks slightly out of place, it could mean your piece is fake. Find a collection of expertly vetted Vivienne Westwood goods from some of the world’s top reputable boutiques on 1stDibs.

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