Leotard
1984 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This body-suit, designed by Viviene Westwood, was worn as gay club-wear in 1984. The fabric is a stretch nylon, which enables energetic dancing and movement. It is based upon the striped shirts worn by football players. The exposed jockstrap, which is part of the garment, suggests the protective underwear worn by sportsmen to hold their guards in place.
The surface decoration on the body-suit draws together logos and random images to suggest football advertising and sponsorship deals. At that time, the world of football was traditionally heterosexual and masculine. The subversive suggestion that football sponsors might sponsor an openly gay man is typical of Westwood's shock tactics.
The surface decoration on the body-suit draws together logos and random images to suggest football advertising and sponsorship deals. At that time, the world of football was traditionally heterosexual and masculine. The subversive suggestion that football sponsors might sponsor an openly gay man is typical of Westwood's shock tactics.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Printed nylon and elastic |
| Brief description | Nylon leotard or stretch bodysuit with elasticated sides, designed by Vivienne Westwood, Great Britain, 1984 |
| Physical description | Blue and white striped nylon leotard or stretch bodysuit with elasticated sides. Printed with football shirt and appliqué patches parodying football sponsorship deals. Built-in jockstrap. Patches include 'OLYMPUS', 'PIRELLI', 'totip', 'olivetti', 'PIAGGIO' and 'FIAT'. The lower front half has 'ANY WAY GOOD WAY' in red squares. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by David Barber, in memory of Rupert Michael Dolan |
| Object history | Registered File number 1991/2009. Worn by Rupert Michael Dolan. Part of the 'Fashion Casual' displayed in the V&A's Street Style exhibition in 1994. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This body-suit, designed by Viviene Westwood, was worn as gay club-wear in 1984. The fabric is a stretch nylon, which enables energetic dancing and movement. It is based upon the striped shirts worn by football players. The exposed jockstrap, which is part of the garment, suggests the protective underwear worn by sportsmen to hold their guards in place. The surface decoration on the body-suit draws together logos and random images to suggest football advertising and sponsorship deals. At that time, the world of football was traditionally heterosexual and masculine. The subversive suggestion that football sponsors might sponsor an openly gay man is typical of Westwood's shock tactics. |
| Bibliographic reference | De La Haye, Amy and Cathie Dingwall, eds. Surfers Soulies Skinheads & Skaters: Subcultural Style from the Forties to the Nineties. London: Victoria and Albert Publications, 1996. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.238-1991 |
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| Record created | August 21, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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