Is Vivienne Westwood Considered Luxury? Brand History

Vivienne Westwood is a British fashion house known for bringing punk and new wave style into the mainstream. Whether it counts as luxury depends on how you define the term, but its place in fashion history is well documented.

The designer

According to Wikipedia, Dame Vivienne Westwood was born on 8 April 1941 and died on 29 December 2022, aged 81. She was appointed an OBE in 1992 and made a Dame Commander (DBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours.

Where it began

With Malcolm McLaren, she ran a boutique on the King’s Road in London that traded under several names: Let It Rock (1971), Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die (1972), Sex (1974) and Seditionaries (1976). It has traded as Worlds End since 1980 and remains at 430 King’s Road. McLaren managed the Sex Pistols, whose members wore her designs, which helped define the punk look.

How to think about it

• Westwood is a designer label with a strong creative identity rather than a mass-market brand.
• Pieces range from accessories to ready-to-wear, so price varies a great deal. Check current prices on the brand’s website.
• If you value heritage, British design and a distinctive point of view, the label is a good fit.

Facts are from Wikipedia’s Vivienne Westwood entry at the time of writing.

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