On Her 80th Birthday, A Look Back At Vivienne Westwood’s Most Incredible Fashion Moments

All hail the grand Dame of British fashion...

Updated on8th April 2021 at 2.31pm

Happy 80th birthday to Vivienne Westwood. She might now be a Dame of the British Empire, but Westwood will always be the queen of punk.

A fearless provocateur who's never afraid to buck against the system, don’t think as she heads into her ninth decade Westwood is going to start shying away now. Tonight, to celebrate the milestone, Westwood is delivering a video message to the world (you can watch it at circa.art) which promises a performance of ‘the punk icon performing a rewritten rendition of ‘Without You’ from My Fair Lady. Offering a stark warning of societal indifference to the looming environmental catastrophes, a cry against the arms trade and its link to climate change’.

Vivienne Westwood in London on 30th August 1977 ©Getty

She might now express more interest in activism and climate change than clothes, but Westwood has given us countless fashion moments in her 40-plus years in the industry. On the catwalk, sure (Naomi Campbell in those platforms, anyone?) but in her personal style as well.

Naomi Campbell in the infamous platforms backstage with Vivienne Westwood ©Getty

Unsurprisingly, Westwood’s approach to getting dressed is like her approach to everything else: fearless, bold, unapologetically her way. From baring her bottom at her Sex store in 1977 to wearing pieces emblazoned with political statements today, she never, ever plays it safe. Tartan, platforms, ruched skirt suits and extravagant Fragonard-style gowns are all recurring signatures. Last year, she appeared in the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood campaign in a hoisted-up dress and red knee-high stockings. For always being brilliantly unexpected, for defying the ‘rules’ so often placed on women, Westwood is worth celebrating every day. Thank you, queen Viv!