Renowned not only as a fashion icon but also as a fervent philanthropist and activist, Dame Vivienne Westwood’s influence has helped many. In 2012, she started her own Climate Revolution, a movement dedicated to environmental sustainability and awareness. As an ambassador for Greenpeace, she lent her voice and creativity to crucial causes, notably crafting the official “Save The Arctic” logo in 2013. Now, auction house Christie’s has announced the sale of the personal wardrobe of this revolutionary British designer and activist.
This auction aims to raise funds for the charitable causes Ms. Westwood ardently championed throughout her lifetime. Andreas Kronthaler, her husband and Creative Director of Vivienne Westwood, has meticulously curated iconic looks from her wardrobe for presentation across two auctions.
The live sale is scheduled to take place in London on June 25, complemented by an online auction running from June 14 to 28, 2024. Spanning an impressive four decades, the auctions will feature over 200 lots, each representing significant moments in Ms. Westwood’s illustrious career and life journey.
Prior to the auctions, a free public exhibition titled “Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection” will grace Christie’s headquarters on King Street, London, running from June 14 to 24.
Proceeds from the sale of fashion, jewelry, and accessories will benefit The Vivienne Foundation, Amnesty International, and Médecins Sans Frontières. Among the showcased collections, “Witches” from Autumn/Winter 1983-84 stands out as one of Ms. Westwood’s earliest masterpieces. Inspired by elements of witchcraft and Keith Haring’s graphic codes, the collection featured swirling silhouettes and exaggerated shoulder structures, embodying a fusion of mystique and boldness.
In “Dressed to Scale,” Autumn/Winter 1998-99, Ms. Westwood pushed boundaries by magnifying elements of garments to serve as decorative focal points. These designs, reminiscent of 18th-century satirical fashion documented by James Gillray, aimed to captivate while inciting contemplation and discourse.
Ms. Westwood’s profound understanding of clothing as a medium for communication reached its pinnacle in the “Propaganda” collection of Autumn/Winter 2005-06. An icon in itself, the collection is a homage to the fashion legend, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 81.