Fans have praised Vivienne Westwood for keeping calm after her fashion designs were brutally mocked in an unearthed 1998 interview – as she is credited for being ‘ahead of her time’.
The icon, who died at the age of 81 on Thursday, appeared on an episode of BBC talk show Wogan – that at the time was hosted by Sue Lawley not Terry Wogan – to show off her latest collection.
But as she spoke about the range which she called ‘Time Machine’ the audience and interviewer continually laughed at her – especially when she gave her thoughts on male style becoming more feminine in the future to include men wearing ‘twin sets and pearls’.
Shock: Fans have praised Vivienne Westwood for keeping calm after her fashion designs were brutally mocked in an unearthed 1998 interview – as she is credited for being ‘ahead of her time’
As the clip resurfaced many have called out how she ridiculed but still managed to stay calm – and pointed out the fact that she was right about male style with the likes of Harry Styles sporting the exact ‘twin set and pearl’ items she had spoken about.
The One Direction star, 28, who is now known for his outlandish style, turned heads at The Brits in 2020 where he wore a purple suit and pearl necklace.
In the section in question from the Wogan chat, the interviewer asks in a sarcastic tone: ‘Tell me about the twin set and pearls on men – has it caught on? I have not seen a lot of men wearing twin sets.’
The audience is then heard erupting into laughter as she takes a moment to compose herself before answering the question.
Gone: The designer died at the age of 81 ‘peacefully, and surrounded by her family’ in London’s Clapham, her representative said on Thursday evening
Iconic look: As the clip resurfaced many have called out how she ridiculed but still managed to stay calm – and pointed out the fact that she was right about male style with the likes of Harry Styles sporting the exact ‘twin set and pearl’ items she had spoken about
She then says: ‘Yes you might see your bank manager in five years wearing that.’
Sue then says: ‘They say Viv’s blown it, we don’t know whether Viv’s blown it this time because this is the new collection, what’s it called?’ – as they prepare to show off some looks on the catwalk.
Vivienne responds: ‘Its called Time Machine, it’s got Pagan touches, Greek and Roman’.
Sue then interrupts to say: ‘Are people supposed to laugh, I mean they’re laughing’, as the model comes out wearing a suit skirt and jacket.
TV: The fashion designer, who died at the age of 81 on Thursday – appeared on an episode of BBC talk show Wogan – that at the time was hosted by Sue Lawley not Terry Wogan – to show off her latest collection
Remarkably keeping her cool Vivienne retorts back: ‘I think she feels great (the model) and I don’t think people should be laughing really!’
Sue adds: ‘Should you really expect to sell those?’
Vivienne then replies as another model wearing a quirky dress comes out: ‘I should expect so yes, I mean if they don’t stop laughing I shall tell the next person not to come on! I’ve never met this response before.’
Sue then says sarcastically to the audience: ‘No you’re not to laugh! You can laugh but you must look as well – now is this a winter collection?’
Not nice: But as she spoke about the range which she called ‘Time Machine’ the audience and interviewer continually laughed at her – especially when she gave her thoughts on men’s style becoming more feminine in the future
Many called out the interview for being ‘mean’ afterwards while others pointed out her incredible composure while being ridiculed by the interviewer and audience.
One wrote on social media as the video did the rounds again: ‘How rude of those around her! Such grace, as you say was held.’
Another said: ‘She’s had the last laugh she’s known worldwide for her amazing fashion designs.’
Someone else said: ‘We love a forward thinking designer who sticks to their vision despite it all!’ while a fourth wrote: ‘This is disgusting, they should have known better!’
Wow: As the clip resurfaced many have called out how she ridiculed but still managed to stay calm – and pointed out the fact that she was right about male style (Harry in 2020)
The designer died at the age of 81 ‘peacefully, and surrounded by her family’ in London’s Clapham, her representative said on Thursday evening.
In a statement, her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler said: ‘I will continue with Vivienne in my heart.
‘We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with. Thank you darling.’
The statement from her representatives added: ‘Vivienne continued to do the things she loved, up until the last moment, designing, working on her art, writing her book, and changing the world for the better.
Not happy: Many called out the interview for being ‘mean’ afterwards while others pointed out her incredible composure while being ridiculed by the interviewer and audience
‘She led an amazing life. Her innovation and impact over the last 60 years has been immense and will continue into the future.’
It also said that The Vivienne Foundation, a not-for-profit company founded by Dame Vivienne, her sons and grand-daughter in late 2022, will launch next year to ‘honour, protect and continue the legacy of Vivienne’s life, design and activism’.
Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely accepted as being responsible for bringing punk and new wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.
Dubious: In the section in question from the Wogan chat, the interviewer asks in a sarcastic tone: ‘Tell me about the twin set and pearls on men – has it caught on? I have not seen a lot of men wearing twin sets’
Her designs were regularly worn by high-profile individuals including Dita Von Teese who wore a purple Westwood wedding gown to marry Marilyn Manson, and Princess Eugenie who wore three Westwood designs for various elements of the wedding of William and Kate Middleton.
Dame Vivienne’s designs also featured in the 2008 film adaptation of Sex And The City, starring Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw.
As the self-styled queen of punk, she always injected controversy into the fashion industry with her risqué creations.
The designer was largely responsible for anti-establishment punk fashion and became known for her subversive and eccentric take on traditional British style.
Icon: Dame Vivienne has been remembered as a ‘true revolutionary and rebellious force in fashion’ following her death aged 81 (pictured in 2009)
She and Malcolm McLaren, one-time manager of punk band the Sex Pistols, opened a shop called Let It Rock – also known as Sex – in the early 1970s where she began selling her outrageous outfits.
The punk style included bondage gear, safety pins, razor blades, bicycle or lavatory chains and spiked dog collars.
The style icon caused a stir in 1992 when she collected her OBE from the Queen minus her underwear and twirled round in the courtyard to reveal all.
In 2006 when she was made a Dame, she opted again not to wear knickers and went to Buckingham Palace wearing a pair of silver horns.
Making waves: The designer was largely responsible for anti-establishment punk fashion and became known for her subversive and eccentric take on traditional British style
Describing her outfit on the day – a black cap perched on the back of vibrant orange hair and a black dress with campaign badges and the tiny horns on her head – she said it showed her as an urban guerilla and a Che Guevara figure.
She explained: ‘I’m supposed to be a bit like a Che Guevara – an urban guerilla, with my cap, this kind of jungle net and a badge for my Active Resistance to Propaganda campaign.’
Some of her best-known creations include the Mini Crini, bustle-skirts, bondage trousers and 12-inch platform shoes, the type which famously tripped up supermodel Naomi Campbell.
She developed the idea of underwear as outerwear – and Madonna’s legendary conical bra worn on her Blonde Ambition tour, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, would probably never have happened if not for Westwood.
She also transformed the corset from a symbol of female repression to one of power and sexual freedom.
After becoming a primary school teacher, she quit her job to become a seamstress of punk fashion and opened her shop on Chelsea’s Kings Road with her then partner McLaren.
The Sex Pistols wore the shop’s clothes to their first gig and Westwood’s first runway show was presented at Olympia in London in March 1981.
Pushing boundaries: In 2006 when she was made a Dame, she opted again not to wear knickers and went to Buckingham Palace wearing a pair of silver horns
Vivienne Westwood: A look at how the designer was ahead of her time
Vivienne Westwood was known for her iconic fashion designs but was also an influential thinker of her time.
She was a successful business woman in a world dominated by men and had forward-thinking attitudes towards climate change, sustainability and second hand clothes.
She made a name for herself on the fashion scene in the 1970s, with her androgynous designs, slogan t-shirts and irreverent attitude towards the establishment including meeting the Queen while going commando.
Vivienne Westwood was known for her iconic fashion designs but was also an influential thinker of her time
Climate change, pollution, as well as her support for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, were all fodder for protest T-shirts or banners worn by models on the runway.
In late 2019 she spoke about her ambitions to campaign for climate activism across many industries, not just fashion.
She said: ‘We have to change the economy. We must rely on cooperation and collaboration to maximize our impact and we must act now! What’s good for the planet is good for the economy!’
Dame Vivienne used her public profile to champion issues including nuclear disarmament and to protest against anti-terrorism laws and government spending policies that hit the poor.
‘I’ve always had a political agenda,’ she said in 2018. ‘I’ve used fashion to challenge the status quo.’
She also transformed the corset from a symbol of female repression to one of power and sexual freedom.
After becoming a primary school teacher, she quit her job to become a seamstress of punk fashion and opened her shop on Chelsea’s Kings Road with her then partner McLaren.
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