Vivienne Westwood (1941–2022)

Excellent biography of an amazing influential woman, illustrated with many photographs. Covers her life from childhood, to raising children, living in poverty, meeting Malcolm McLaren, the rise of punk and the Sex Pistols, running a shop at 430 King's Road, becoming internationally recognised, and campaigning for human rights and the environment. Full of small details (such as The Elastic (Control of Use) Order of 1943, prohibited the use of elastic in all garments except in the corsets and knickers of women directly involved in the war effort; attitudes of etiquette - at grammar school being told to "Lower that ponytail three inches!"). I particularly loved the photograph of Vivienne posing as Margaret Thatcher. Fascinating and inspiring.… (mer)