Fashion

11 Unforgettable, Risqué Runway Looks by Vivienne Westwood

These exemplify her revolutionary force, push against convention, and why she was called the Godmother of Punk.

Vivienne Westwood walks the runway during her Spring/Summer 1996 ready-to-wear collection during Paris Fashion Week in 1995. Photography: Getty Images.
Vivienne Westwood walks the runway during her Spring/Summer 1996 ready-to-wear collection during Paris Fashion Week in 1995. Photography: Getty Images.

Known as the Godmother of Punk and a revolutionary force in fashion, Vivienne Westwood’s legacy is nothing short of legendary. From her early days redefining streetwear through punk aesthetics to her later years blending historical references with avant-garde innovation in the United Kingdom, the late designer consistently pushed boundaries. Her works were never confined by convention, instead thriving on rebellion, wit, and a deep understanding of cultural and political subversion.

Westwood’s runways were a playground for her radical ideas and theatrical storytelling. Whether reimagining 18th-century corsetry for the modern woman or sending models down the catwalk in towering platform shoes and tartan prints, her collections were unapologetically bold. With a knack for merging the romantic with the anarchic, she carved out a space where fashion became both art and activism, a commentary on society and the environment. Her ability to marry historical references with contemporary edge was unparalleled. Collections like Fall/Winter 1993's Anglomania and Fall/Winter 1982's Buffalo Girls showcased her mastery of reinterpreting British heritage with a punk twist. Her Pirate collection in 1981 challenged the very idea of how clothing could express freedom and individuality.

Westwood, who passed away in 2022, left a legacy that goes far beyond the garments themselves. Her shows were events that celebrated eccentricity and defiance. Click through the gallery below to discover Vivienne Westwood’s most iconic runway moments, as modeled by legends like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Bella Hadid. Each one a testament to her extraordinary career. 

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British model Sarah Stockbridge on the catwalk at the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 1991 show in September 1990. Photography: Getty Images.
Two models donning underwear and towels with the Vivienne Westwood logo at the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 1991 show in September 1990. Photography: Getty Images.
Kate Moss eats an ice cream bar while walking at the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 1994 ready-to-wear show in 1993. Photography: Getty Images.
Naomi Campbell sits on the runway and laughs after taking a fall during the Vivienne Westwood Autumn/Winter 1993 ready-to-wear show. Photography: Getty Images.
Naomi Campbell walks for Vivienne Westwood’s Autumn/Winter 1994 ready-to-wear show. Photography: Getty Images.
Carla Bruni walks Vivienne Westwood’s Autumn/Winter 1995 ready-to-wear show. Photography: Getty Images.
Naomi Campbell struts down the runway during Vivienne Westwood’s Autumn/Winter 1994 ready-to-wear show. Photography: Getty Images.
Kate Moss bares it all for Vivienne Westwood’s Autumn/Winter 1994 ready-to-wear show. Photography: Getty Images.
A model wears the iconic "cloud dress" during the Vivienne Westwood Autumn/Winter 2008 show. Photography: Getty Images.
Bella Hadid walking the runway during the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2020 show. Photography: Getty Images.
Bella Hadid walks the runway during the Vivienne Westwood Autumn/Winter 2021 show. Photography: Getty Images.

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