Vivienne Westwood black leather 'Rocking Horse' shoes, circa 1980s (SZ 41)
About the Item
- Designer:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: 41 (EU)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Leather is in excellent condition with only minor wear on the wooden platform.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU14021849683
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.
- Hermes silk floral maxi shirt dress with matching sunhat, c. 1970sBy HermèsLocated in London, GBSilk floral maxi shirt dress with matching sunhat - Button fastenings throughout - Bishop sleeves - Internal waist stay - 'Romantique' floral print c. 1970sCategory
1970s French Day Dresses
- Alexander McQueen embroidered ivory silk cropped evening jacket , ss 2000By Alexander McQueenLocated in London, GBIntroducing the archival Alexander McQueen Spring-Summer 2000 ivory silk cropped jacket, a stunning and timeless piece from the late designer's iconic collection. This exquisite jac...Category
1990s Italian Jackets
- Martin Margiela white-painted oversized artisanal waistcoat, ss 1993By Maison Martin MargielaLocated in London, GBPresenting the exceptional archival Martin Margiela Spring-Summer 1993 oversized white-painted checked wool waistcoat, a remarkable piece that epitomizes the designer's unconventiona...Category
1990s Italian Jackets
- Maison Martin Margiela Autumn-Winter 1999 khaki green long apronBy Maison Martin MargielaLocated in London, GBMaison Martin Margiela Autumn-Winter 1999 khaki green long apron - four open square pockets - extra long adjustable straps with button closureCategory
1990s Italian Jackets
- Vivienne Westwood pink floral printed maxi skirt and blouse ensemble, ss 2001By Vivienne WestwoodLocated in London, GBVivienne Westwood pink floral printed ensemble. Maxi skirt and draped blouse with asymmetric cut. Spring-Summer 2001Category
Early 2000s British Evening Dresses and Gowns
- John Galliano cream knitted silk 'farmers smock' dress, ss 1986By John GallianoLocated in London, GBJohn Galliano cream knitted silk 'farmer's smock' dress from the 'Fallen Angels' collection Spring-Summer 1986Category
1980s British Day Dresses
- Pucci Multi-Color Satin Tie Sandal HeelsBy Emilio PucciLocated in Scottsdale, AZLook no further for your next summer shoes! You will inspired by an Italian summer every time you put these heels on. These heels are contrasting colors w...Category
Early 2000s Italian Shoes
- Golden Goose Yellow Leather Superstar SneakersBy Golden GooseLocated in Scottsdale, AZStep into unique style with these Golden Goose Yellow Leather Superstar Sneakers! Crafted with premium yellow suede and adorned with bold black leather stars on the sides, these sneakers are a fashion statement on their own. Their signature distressed look adds character and individuality to your outfit. Made with high-quality yellow suede and black leather stars for a striking contrast. The sneakers' distressed appearance gives them an edgy and one-of-a-kind look. Silver Golden Goose...Category
2010s Italian Shoes
- Beige Christian Louboutin Python Pointed-Toe PumpsBy Christian LouboutinLocated in New York, NYBeige python pointed-toe pumps by Christian Louboutin. 4.25" heel height.Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Shoes
- 1980s Gucci "Flora" Print FlatsBy GucciLocated in Scottsdale, AZStay on trend with these fabulous Gucci "Flora" Flats in a size 37! Gucci's classic motif with vibrant colors, florals and bugs. Shoes will come with dust bags.Category
1980s Italian Shoes
- ALAIA White Gladiator Sandals Size 7By Azzedine AlaïaLocated in Thousand Oaks, CAAmazing Alaia White Studded Gladiator Sandals. So chic for resort wear or everyday summer attire. Size 7. Great condition. They show some signs of ...Category
2010s Shoes
- Gucci Zebra Black and White Pumps Size 36.5By GucciLocated in Thousand Oaks, CAGucci Zebra Print, black and white, ponyhair pumps. Natural signs of wear to soles, otherwise great condition. Size 36 1/2Category
2010s Shoes
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.