Ensemble thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Ensemble

1983 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

For well over three decades Vivienne Westwood, along with her one-time partner Malcolm McLaren, has been at the centre of British fashion and one of its most inventive and influential designers. Westwood’s career in fashion was galvanised by McLaren and together they launched memorable fashion moments, including Punk in the early 1970s and later their Pirates collection. McLaren and Westwood conducted a design relationship between 1971 and 1983. In 1990 and again in 1991 Vivienne Westwood was named British Designer of the Year; she has also received an OBE.

Westwood’s unique mix of practicality and inventiveness, her preoccupation with silhouette and the manner in which she manipulates fabrics result in dynamic fashion. Westwood herself once said, 'You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes.’

This hat is from Westwood’s ‘Witches’ collection (Autumn/Winter1983-4), for which the designer collaborated with graffiti artist Keith Haring. Haring submitted drawings to Westwood, for her to use as she wished. Westwood used this hat as the final, essential touch to a number of ensembles inspired by comedian Chico Marx.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Hat
  • Jacket
  • Trousers
  • Top
Brief description
Ensemble, m, green felt hat with green cotton jacket, trousers and top, Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, Britain, 'Witches' collection, A/W 1983.
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support and assistance from the Friends of the V&A, the Elsbeth Evans Trust, and the Dorothy Hughes Bequest
Object history
Registered file 2001/1170.
Production
'Witches' collection, A/W 1983
Summary
For well over three decades Vivienne Westwood, along with her one-time partner Malcolm McLaren, has been at the centre of British fashion and one of its most inventive and influential designers. Westwood’s career in fashion was galvanised by McLaren and together they launched memorable fashion moments, including Punk in the early 1970s and later their Pirates collection. McLaren and Westwood conducted a design relationship between 1971 and 1983. In 1990 and again in 1991 Vivienne Westwood was named British Designer of the Year; she has also received an OBE.

Westwood’s unique mix of practicality and inventiveness, her preoccupation with silhouette and the manner in which she manipulates fabrics result in dynamic fashion. Westwood herself once said, 'You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes.’

This hat is from Westwood’s ‘Witches’ collection (Autumn/Winter1983-4), for which the designer collaborated with graffiti artist Keith Haring. Haring submitted drawings to Westwood, for her to use as she wished. Westwood used this hat as the final, essential touch to a number of ensembles inspired by comedian Chico Marx.
Collection
Accession number
T.158:1 to 4-2002

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdNovember 6, 2002
Record URL
Download as: JSON