Vivienne Westwood BRIEFS

In the 1970s, British designer and counterculture icon Vivienne Westwood sent shockwaves through the fashion world with her provocative designs. From the skull and crossbones branding of her first boutique to her controversial shop, SEX, which specialized in “rubberwear for the office,” Westwood has undergone an array of innovative stylistic incarnations. Westwood’s 1981 anti-punk collection Pirates—her first runway show—inspired the New Romantics movement and set the stage for an illustrious career. Now, the designer’s notoriously rebellious aesthetic has been subtly infused into contemporary ready-to-wear, accessories, and lifestyle goods. Incorporating an eclectic arsenal of striking colors, off-beat patterns, and bold motifs, the label invigorates everyday staples with its signature obstinate style.