I have always been slightly obsessed with Vivienne. I was so upset when she died, I think I expected her to go on forever. What is it about her that fascinated me so much? For me it was her determination and vision, she wasn’t afraid to experiment. Equally she worked so hard, a mother of 2 young boys, working as a primary school teacher to make ends meet,  making her early designs on a Singer sewing machine in her flat.

Throughout her life she always had such an avid interest in art and fashion, visiting galleries, researching and studying the history of clothes and how they were made. This was interpreted and re-created in many of her amazing collections. 

I certainly don’t have a wardrobe full of her designer clothes. About 6 years ago when I worked in Fulham, I would visit the charity shops during my lunch break. One day I walked past and there in the window were a pair of Vivienne Westwood red plastic Anglomania Melissa shoes, in my size. I had to have those shoes, but the shop was closed. Luckily my friend lived round the corner, the next morning she was there waiting for the shop to open. Those shoes were mine! 

I am also fortunate to have amazing generous friends who clubbed together for my 50th birthday and bought me the Vivienne Westwood Bruce Of Kinnard tartan Derby square bag. 

Another favourite of mine is my Lou Taylor ‘Vivienne’ necklace.  https://www.lou-taylor.co.uk/collections/jewellery

Bag and necklace modelled by my new muse ‘Veronica’. She is also wearing a charity shop find, sex pistols T shirt to complete the look.