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In the fashion world, Vivienne Westwood is legendary. Lauded the world over for putting punk in the public eye (and allowing it to enter the sartorial mainstream), her empire started out with a fascination over “acts of rebellion.” She was drawn to all things edgy and avant-garde, with a healthy serving of the provocative: often using fashion design as a way to communicate political ideas. Nothing was off limits in Westwood’s collections during the span of her illustrious career, and one could encounter pieces decked out in plaids, elegant albeit anachronistic bows, and ruffles. But even though Westwood’s legacy lives on most brightly vis-à-vis her attire, the designer’s jewelry creations are certainly not to be overlooked. And now, they get the spotlight — all of it — in an upcoming title called “Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery.”
The volume was penned by fashion journalist and critic Alexander Fury, in close collaboration with the Vivienne Westwood label. Readers are able to step inside the world of jewelry as envisioned by Westwood herself — getting arguably the most intimate look to date on pieces that defined her fashion house and continue to reverberate in cultural conversation. The iconic Westwood orb is featured, a signature of the brand’s mix of rebellion, futurism, and legacy, as well as unique carabiner-based visions-turned-reality, silver charm–clad hats, orb nose rings that strutted down the Vivienne Westwood fall 1994 runway, and beyond.
There’s history in this book, but it’s artfully interspersed with images of the highest quality — offering up a look inside Westwood’s precious world of objects. The upcoming release also promises to “acquaint readers with the recurring motifs, techniques, and inspirations of the world of Vivienne Westwood jewelry,” making it ideal for every longtime fan of and newcomer to her work both. The total number of jewelry pieces presented inside? Give or take 200, spanning a wide range of materials that include everything from rubber to paperclips to recycled cans.
One of Westwood’s most famous “eras” was one she called “Anglomania,” occurring between 1993 and 1999. It was punctuated by her famously innovative take on traditional tailoring, lots of tartan, and irreverent takes on British history (the latter executed so aptly that the line remains a major fashion touchpoint to this day). It’s no wonder then that “Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery” also dives into accessories, like tiaras and coronets, that deconstruct and reconstruct pieces vital to the legacy of England.
The book is vital to understanding Westwood’s impact on her industry — and world at large — more fully. Whether it inspires you, surprises you, or makes you wish to have been personally acquainted with the woman whose self-expression was unparalleled (and beloved), there’s no doubt in our mind this will become the kind of coffee table book that doesn’t just sit there collecting dust on your coffee table.
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‘Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery’ by Alexander Fury
Price upon publish date of this article: $58.68
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, Cosmopolitan, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on book releases related to all things fashion.