"On Liberty"

Vivienne Westwood

fall/winter 1994–95 · wool, cotton, leather · Costume Institute

More than any other contemporary designer, Vivienne Westwood has been scrupulous in her study of historical forms of dress. Her brilliance, however, has not been in the literal rendering of period artifacts but in her application of contemporary techniques to resolve their form-making and an almost abandoned revivification of their sexual content. Despite its cartoon-like rendering of the bustle, this suit precipitated a surprisingly erotic response when seen in motion on the runway.

Artist

Vivienne Westwood

Date

fall/winter 1994–95

Medium

wool, cotton, leather

Culture

British

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Vivienne Westwood, 1995