Vivienne Westwood has been turning out avant-garde fashion for three decades now. Always a bit of a fashion rebel, Westwood sent male models down the runway with a strong message for her Milan fall/winter 2013 debut, and that message was an end to global warming.
Svelte, tattooed men strutted their stuff in rich earth tones of red cashmere, deep browns and blacks in wool and tweed, and steel grey in silk, all constructed into two- or three-piece suits and cardigans with a whimsical or almost animated tailoring. (Think Mr. Rogers, only his hip, younger brother with street cred.) Amid the skinny tailored pants, high-belted waists, and extra long riding coats, Westwood integrated her message by pinning buttons on her models that read “Climate Revolution.” She didn’t stop there. Models sported bruised and bloodied faces or slicked on war paint to further reinforce the designer’s claim that “Climate revolution is the only means toward a sound economy.”
For this collection, Westwood found inspiration from traveling in urban areas and while cycling. A cashmere sweater reminiscent of a vintage Star Wars uniform, paired with plaid trousers and tucked into checkered and illustrated socks with buckled, brown oxfords, looks that delivered various fashion statements from drastically different decades.
A beautiful navy suit trimmed in chocolate brown was paired with an almost animatedly oversize felt bowler hat and shiny black army-style formal oxfords, the model’s face accessorized with a painted-on mustache and eyeglass. Here, we find ourselves with one foot in the ‘20s and the other somewhere in early ‘90s Brooklyn.
Westwood provides nothing short of uniquely perplexing tailoring and a bit of attitude with a loud message to her style. In this case, that message is delivered on the heels of the devastating damage of Super Storm Sandy brought to the East Coast. Hopefully her fellow fashionistas will take notice, and join her Climate Revolution.
Vivienne Westwood is an English fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.
