Hi again
That’s the wonder of Vivienne Westwood. Last week I went up to London and met with Gail of Is This Mutton in Victoria Station, whereupon off we went to Christie’s on a number 38 bus. And wow, both of us were absolutely knocked out by what we saw. It was Christies’s pre-auction reveal of Vivienne Westwood clothes.
I’m sure you all know of Vivienne Westwood who was a one-off. She was such a fascinating combination of visionary fashion designer, environmentalist and gloriously out-there punk. Wikipedia informs me that she is ranked as the 4th most influential British artist of the last 50 years.
Can I emphasise that this exhibition was not about Westwood’s fashion designs and the clothes she sold, no, these were her actual own clothes. Gail told me Westwood felt these clothes should not be sold as an entire collection to a museum, but be worn by members of the public as there was still plenty of wear in them. Proceeds of the sale were to go to several charities including Greenpeace. My word, what a woman – respect!
To say we were delighted with the exhibition was an understatement as it truly exceeded our expectations. There were 5 rooms of amazing clothes – and here are a few photos to show you her mastery of design and well, simply, her pizzazz, and her exciting energy and style. Sadly, we saw the exhibition in its last few days so it is closed now.
Here is Gail at the beginning of the exhibition. She wore a perfect dress for her gamine figure.
And how about that for a nipped in waist and shoulder pads?
That was an interesting take on the trouser suit.
More jackets – I really fancy the one on the right.
The photo doesn’t do this justice as the dress sparkled all over with different coloured stones.
Btw, this dress above was reserved at £5000 and bids were expected to reach £10,000. Actually there was nothing under £1000 apart from some shoes and some jewellery.
We were surprised, her waist was tiny! Because Westwood had such a strong presence and personality I had thought of her as tall and imposing but no she was much smaller than I thought – and that waist….
What about this one below – anyone got a waist this small? However, she did wear corsets and worked on her look of a clinched in waist.
Some of the clothes had wine stains and other marks – but I think this must be deliberate.
She did love a suit!
Matching shoes anyone? Are you tempted?
I was wearing my black skirt, which I featured in the last post, and a denim white jacket over a white t-shirt. On reflection, I could have worn a more structured jacket. See below for more musings on the thoughts I had after seeing these clothes.
I was pointing at the only garment in the exhibition that would fit me as it had a Westwood label and is a UK Size 12, most of the items were far smaller than a size 12.
Although Westwood wanted these clothes to be worn, I imagine there will be many wealthy collectors, and even museums, after these wonderful items. Sigh, there were several I quite fancied, and I especially loved the jewellery (sorry didn’t take any photos) but see the next couple of paragraph.
I was so inspired by the exhibition, especially the nipped-in waists, that the very next day I looked at my wardrobe and said to myself – boring, boring, boring! Several dresses went into the charity shop bag and that afternoon I sourced a nipped-in black cotton jacket from my local Dress Agency and bought it without a thought. Also bought a lovely leopard duster coat that I will show you soon. It’s too warm for our current weather, but I will wear the jacket and have done already.
The whole point of this blog is to encourage women of any age, but especially those who, like me, are well into the 70s to wear what we damn well like (pardon my language). But I feel strongly that there is a lot of pressure on women to fade away quietly or comfortably and just stay there. Also we can all get into a rut or just be happy with what we think is best. I know I often get into a rut. But Westwood, whose face looked out on us in several large photographs, (didn’t take pics of them, unfortunately) was never afraid to i) look old – I mean she showed off her wrinkles and jowls and quite obviously hadn’t had any ‘work’ done.
And ii) she was never afraid to be outrageous and have a fun look.
Oh Yes, Yes, and Yes again. I want to have that fun look, even an outrageous look, certainly an edgy look. And also I really was so heartened by Westwood’s face. She was so unafraid of looking the way she did.
What an inspirational fun exhibition it was.
That’s all for now, but tell me, do you want to be just comfortable in your clothes or could you possibly take on being a little bit outrageous! Well, this week I went up to London on the hottest day of our little heatwave and I did indeed choose to be comfortable in un-air-conditioned London – those buses! I wore one of the long flowery skirts I showed you recently with a white loose cotton blouse (you’ll see those pics soon). The thing is I aspire to be outrageous and often fail.
But it’s not a bad attitude to take. Let me know what you think!
With love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
Loved seeing this through your eyes! Yes, I’d be totally inspired by the incredible style. I hope they don’t all end up on a mannequin somewhere, but that some of those pieces will walk the streets – on women with tiny waists, obviously!
Oh my word – those waists! Mind you she was much smaller than we thought she was and of course, she did train her waist and wore a corset – a sexy one of course! Yes, I do hope some get worn out and about.
Thanks MaryK 😊
Fantastic! I was a fan of her work when she opend that shop with Malcolm McLaren. Lot of tartan back then, and also suits! She must have loved them all her life.
It was such a good exhibition – and free! I expect they wanted people to think about buying pieces. But everything went far higher than the reserve prices. Still, it was so good to see the dresses and suits and just the way she projected herself. What a role model for us all.
Thanks Nancy 😊
Oh what a lovely post Penny. Yes, I loved seeing her face too because she was unafraid to show it, unapologetic in fact. She really epitomises the spirit of what we older bloggers hope to capture on our sites. Wear what you please, and show yourself off- people need to see what unadulterated older women look like!
Can’t wait to see your new pieces inspired by Vivienne. I’ll definitely be wearing my nipped in black jacket – which goes beautifully with my one piece of Westwood, a skirt previously owned by Carol Vorderman!
I was so inspired by that exhibition – what a woman and so politically aware too. I do admire her and I do aim to wear more slightly daring and stylish clothes too! And also what a role model to not be afraid of an aging face – felt very reassured about that after seeing that exhibition.
Oh indeed, wear what you want, but that, of course, includes being comfortable in the heat!
Thanks Gail 😊
My life_style in the tropics does not lend itself to variety when it comes to clothing . Am not a fashionista anyway . Now I just love the concept of being outrageous! __ and of course wearing what you dam well please ! As a student nurse in UK in 1969 I got pretty close one evening going to theatre _ a canary _ yellow coat and leaf _ green tights.I thought it was a bold thing to do !
I guess it is something like how I felt on a London bus last Wednesday. With all the windows open it made no difference, it was like sitting in a can of soup and I was dripping with sweat in the humidity! I remember that shorts and a loose dress was the only way to dress in St Lucia – you have to be comfortable in those temperatures.
Ah yes, those student days – you were very stylish Olivia! Thanks and lots of love as always 😊
what a wonderful show! I am finding that as I age I am wearing less makeup and not so afraid to show my real face. I must admit that most of my looks are fairly conservative, I think that this is because I am a small person and some things look silly and also |I want to be taken seriously, keeping this short as | have been without internet for several days and catching up. Darby
It was such a good show and free! Westwood’s face is so iconic and it is so good that she showed her age rather than the weird stretched looks that seem to be the result of cosmetic surgery. But as we went round the exhibition we weren’t the only ones to keep remarking how small Westwood was. Her personality and image was so huge I, like many others, had thought of her as tall and imposing, instead she was small and imposing!
Thanks as ever Darby – take care and hope it isn’t too hot where you are 😊
What an amazing exhibit! Many drag queens use her aesthetic for their style. They, of course, also wear the corsets to nip in the waist and give the illusion of a female shape. I love that she mixed patterns, textures, and what have you to create a look. I’m not sure I could pull off the red eyebrows, but I do like that red eyeliner in the middle of her lid! I’d also say she was blessed with some wonderful genes because, even though she has wrinkles, she also has wonderful skin. What an icon! It is a shame these things are all priced so high so that they probably won’t be walking most of the streets of London. I wonder who did the initial offerings on them. Thanks for sharing this with us, Penny! And, I will certainly wear what I damn well want, but then you knew that!
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The auction results on Christie’s shows that pretty much everything went for far more than the reserve pricing. Altogether it raised £754,488 – that faux fur £6930, the matching pink shoes and suit, £3024! Wealthy women and collectors would have got her clothes at these prices and like you I do hope they are worn.
Westwood was very unique – and don’t you love her unadorned face with those wrinkles. Looking closely at her complexion, it is one that is typically British with the pale skin and fine lines. Our British climate with all its wet weather does help to keep the lines at bay. She’s now my role model for my 80s!!!
Thanks Marsha 😊
Thank you for sharing this Westwood collection Penny. I have seen the results of the Christies auction with most fetching more than expected so I wonder how many of these pieces will actually be worn. I have always been an admirer of her style but also her stand on so many issues.
I agree with you that as we age it is so important to express ourselves through our outward appearance and not fade into the background.
On my last trip to Hobart I was lucky to find a Vivienne Westwood Anglomania jacket , it has that fitted waist and I must admit it is a little snug at present , maybe I need to look into the waist corset for that nipped in waist or simply loose a few kilos.
Looking forward to seeing your new pieces . I have a feeling you and I will never let ourselves fade into the woodwork.
I too have just looked at the result of the Christie auction – £6930 for the faux fur, hmm, not for me, but worth it. Then I went on to Ebay and all too expensive for me and many of them very small. However, from now on I shall keep my eye open for a Westwood. Love that you have a Westwood jacket.
Oh yes, Jill we will never fade away, and now, with my new hair cut, and the new clothes, I do feel I have a better style all round. The thing for me is to never stop improving my self – this looking out for clothes and accessories, keeps me sane while the world around us goes insane, eg. our election and the one in the States!
Thanks so much Jill 😊
Oh thank you Penny wonderful photos xx
Glad to be of service Vivien – it was very inspiring!
Such amazing clothes! I love the suits and nipped in waists. I have a dress from one of her diffusion lines but that’s all my budget could stretch too!
Emma xxx
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