Lasting Legacy: Vivienne Westwood's Influence on the Fashion World

The world of fashion is ever evolving, and trends come and go with remarkable speed. There are few designers who have transcended the rapid turnover of trends in the industry and who’s looks never seem to go out of style. Vivienne Westwood has dominated the fashion world for over five decades now, representing rebellion and innovation with her daring looks. She has not only transformed the way we perceive fashion but has also left a lasting mark on the industry as a whole.

Vivienne Westwood burst onto the fashion scene in the 1970's as one of the first people to introduce the punk movement and showcased a style that was defiant beyond anything that had been seen before. She often embraced DIY aesthetics, safety pins and ripped fabrics, challenging the conventions of mainstream fashion and societal norms.

Even now her influence can be felt across all dimensions of the fashion industry. Her bold creativity and fearless approach to design have inspired countless designers, one being inspiring fashion photographer Olivia Davies.

The 22 year old from Wakefield has been dedicated to the fashion world for the past four years, setting up photoshoots to showcase her designs and trying to make an impact on the industry. She hopes to eventually land a role in the luxury sector, doing shoots and editorials full time. One of her most memorable shoots was her punk editorial shoot that she did in April 2023, with her inspiration being no other than Vivienne Westwood. She said: "she has inspired most of what I do so I wanted to really reflect that in a personal project.

"I just love British designers such as Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen but unfortunately I do not have the skill of making clothes so I wanted to learn a way to work with clothes that didn't require any textile skills."

The shoot showcased handmade tartan tutu's, tartan trousers and an editorial hairstylist trialing some new hair pieces. These looks are heavily influenced by Vivienne Westwood, with one of her most recognisable designs being tartan. Not only did she incorporate the print into many of her clothes but also designed and registered her very own tartans. For her 1993 Anglomania Collection she created the macandreas tartan which showcased an array of blues and pinks. She incorporated this in both the men's and women's collection and is still to this day one of the most recognisable aspect of her designs.

"The Britishness of the clothes inspired me to do a shoot. I love punk, I love print so I thought what a perfect way to match them together without being overbearing." Olivia has used her skills to reinvent the iconic Westwood style by using clothes to inspire diversity and punk culture. Using a mixture of leather, lace and tartan patterns she has transcended fashion norms, much like her inspiration Vivienne Westwood.