UNITED KINGDOM: FASHION DESIGNER VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RECEIVES FIRST MOET & CHANDON FASHION TRIBUTE AWARD

Record ID: 388187

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FASHION DESIGNER VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RECEIVES FIRST MOET & CHANDON FASHION TRIBUTE AWARD
  • Date: 6th December 1998
  • Summary: (LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM) (17 NOVEMBER, 1998) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) ( * BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) STATUE IN VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM MOET AND CHANDON CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES IN BUCKETS STATUE AND FLOWERS PAN CEILING SIGN: FASHION TRIBUTE BOY GEORGE AND FRIEND POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS VIVIENNE WESTWOOD AND HUSBAND ANDREAS KRONTHALER POSING MODEL LILI MALTESE AND HUSBAN
  • Embargoed: 21st December 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA990IGYVC1X5T6UIUKRVL4SZD9
  • Story Text: British avant-garde fashion designer Vivienne Westwood is the first and proud recipient of the Moet & Chandon Fashion tribute, and the stars were out in force for her gala award ceremony in London.
    Some say she's a genius, some say she's just plain mad.But everyone agrees Vivienne Westwood has had an immense influence on the fashion world.
    Starting out as the Queen of Punk with her former lover Malcolm McLaren in the 70's she dressed the Sex Pistols and anyone else who felt rebellious.
    But when Punk went mainstream Vivienne Westwood did not string along.
    Instead she turned towards history, plundering it for her collections.
    In fact, she says, one can only be original if there is a link with tradition.
    Although Westwood has been in fashion for twenty years it wasn't until the early 90's that she received any true recognition.
    The London Fashion Council ignored the eccentric designer even though her shows were very successful and many designers picked up on Westwood avant-garde ideas.
    Finally, in 1990 and in 1991 Westwood was named British Designer of the Year and also received her OBE.
    Bob Geldorf feels Vivienne Westwood is the quintessential English woman, who has a fine historical sense and a great perspective of the future.
    And singer Boy George claims, she is the most important fashion designer of the past fifty years.
    Today nearing 60 Vivienne Westwood has lost none of her esprit.She arrived at the Victoria and Albert Museum in light grey silk reminiscent of 18th century ballrooms, a smart feathery hat cocked sideways.And it seemed every woman chose to wear Westwood that night flaunting their assets in decollete ballgowns and boned silk evening dresses.
    Models Marie Helvin and Lili Maltese are true Westwood fans both having modeled for her.They say her fashion makes them feel glamorous, feminine, and sexy.Clothes that never go out of style, both agree.
    That may be the reason Moet & Chandon picked Westwood for their first fashion tribute.The tribute which they hope to turn into a prestigious annual event should honor "a leading light from the world of fashion whose creativity and vision of the way we dress has had a profound influence on our lifestyle".
    The evening's highlight was a first showing of the Westwood spring/summer collection for 1999 and received thunderous applause.
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