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April 8, 2014

Happy Birthday, Vivienne Westwood!

By Leah Rodriguez

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Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images

Today, British designer Vivienne Westwood turns 73. A pioneer in putting punk fashion on the radar, she dressed everyone from the Sex Pistols to the Princess of Wales, and never shied away from making political statements — on or off the runway. She recently shaved her head to protest climate change, and wore a “branded” headband to a Marc Jacobs runway show back in 2007. Join us in celebrating her revolutionary personal style by checking out her best looks over the years.

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1 / 65 Photos
August 30, 1977 Where: Outside Bow Street Magistrate's Court, where she was facing a Breach of Peace case. Photo: Peter Cade
Circa 1982 Where: At her studio in London. Photo: © Michael Putland/2010 Getty Images
Circa 1990  Photo: Terry O’Neill/2007 Getty Images
Circa 1991 Where: With Yves Saint Laurent backstage at the YSL Spring/Summer 1992 show in Paris, France. Photo: Michel Dufour/1991 Eric Ryan
Circa 1998 Where: At the Nylon Magazine Launch in London. Photo: Rose Hartman
April 10, 1999 Where: At the Nylon Magazine Launch in London. Photo: Fred Duval
September 20, 1999 Where: At Float's After-Party For Her Spring/Summer 2000 'Red Label' Collection. Photo: Robin Platzer/Twin Images
June 6, 2000 Where: At the Fragrance Fifi Awards in New York City. Photo: Ron Galella/2000 Ron Galella
March 19, 2002 Where: At the Victoria and Albert Museum's Exhibition of Tiara's in London. Photo: Dave Benett/2002 Getty Images
October 15, 2002 Where: At the Star Studden Party For V&a Exhibition: "Versace At The V&a, A Retrospective Of The Work Of Gianni Ver... October 15, 2002 Where: At the Star Studden Party For V&a Exhibition: "Versace At The V&a, A Retrospective Of The Work Of Gianni Versace" At The Victoria And Albert Museum in London. Photo: Dave Benett
December 16, 2002 Where: At the Sir Elton Johns Concert Presented By M.a.c Cosmetics in London. Photo: Dave Benett
March 30, 2004 Where: At the Sir Elton Johns Concert Presented By M.a.c Cosmetics in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2004 Dave M. Benett
March 30, 2004 Where: At the Private View of her retrospective show at the V&A Museum in London. Photo: Sean Gallup/2004 Getty Images
December 1, 2004 Where: At the Tracey Emin hosted gala screening of her feature film debut Top Spot in London. Photo: DAVE BENETT/2004 Dave M. B... December 1, 2004 Where: At the Tracey Emin hosted gala screening of her feature film debut Top Spot in London. Photo: DAVE BENETT/2004 Dave M. Benett
February 14, 2005 Where: At the Agent Provocateur 10th Anniversary Party in London. Photo: C. Uncle
September 19, 2005 Where: At the London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2006 Versace Store Relaunch Party. Photo: Tim Whitby
September 28, 2005 Where: During a Liberty News Conference and Photocall in London. Photo: David Lodge
November 22, 2005 Where: During Vivienne Westwood Fashion World Tour in Tokyo. Photo: Nathan Shanahan
January 31, 2006 Where: At the private view for Anna Piaggi's exhibition "Fashion-ology" at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London,... January 31, 2006 Where: At the private view for Anna Piaggi's exhibition "Fashion-ology" at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2006 Dave M. Benett
May 1, 2006 Where: With Andreas Kronthaler at the 'AngloMania' Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art  After Party. Photo... May 1, 2006 Where: With Andreas Kronthaler at the 'AngloMania' Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art  After Party. Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography
October 3, 2006 Where: At the Vivianne Westwood Fashion Show, as part of Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007. Photo: Michel Dufour/2006 Eric Ryan
November 2, 2006 Where: At the British Fashion Awards in London. Photo: David Westing
February 16, 2007 Where: At the Marc Jacobs fashion show during London Fashion Week. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2007 Dave M. Benett
June 13, 2007 Where: At her fragrance launch of 'Let It Rock', in London, England. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2007 Dave M. Benett
July 23, 2007 Where: At Fashion Group International's 'Night of Stars' in New York City. Photo: Tom Wargacki/2007 Tom Wargacki
September 23, 2007 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood opening exhibition as part of Milan Fashion Week Spring Summer 2008. Photo: Daniele Venturell... September 23, 2007 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood opening exhibition as part of Milan Fashion Week Spring Summer 2008. Photo: Daniele Venturelli
November 27, 2007 Where: At the British Fashion Awards in London. Photo: Stuart Wilson/2007 Getty Images
February 12, 2008 Where: At the launch party of the Vivienne Westwood Opus, in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2008 Dave M. Benett
February 25, 2008 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood show at the Fall/Winter 2008/2009 collection during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: Chris Moore/Cat... February 25, 2008 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood show at the Fall/Winter 2008/2009 collection during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: Chris Moore/Catwalking/2008 Catwalking
July 20, 2008 Where: At the Mercedes Benz Fashion week spring/summer 2009 ready-to-wear fashion show of Vivienne Westwood Anglomania in Berlin. ... July 20, 2008 Where: At the Mercedes Benz Fashion week spring/summer 2009 ready-to-wear fashion show of Vivienne Westwood Anglomania in Berlin. Photo: Andreas Rentz/2008 Getty Images
September 17, 2008 Where: Walking in Fashion For Relief at the Natural History Museum in London. Photo: Mike Marsland/2008 Mike Marsland
September 18, 2008 Where: At the Vogue Celebration of Fashion Dinner hosted by Alexandra Shulman in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2008 Dave M. B... September 18, 2008 Where: At the Vogue Celebration of Fashion Dinner hosted by Alexandra Shulman in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2008 Dave M. Benett
November 11, 2008 Where: At the 10th anniversary party of Claridge's Bar in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2008 Dave M. Benett
November 17, 2008 Where: At the Walpole Awards in London. Photo: Ferdaus Shamim/2008 Ferdaus Shamim
November 18, 2008 Where: At the Chaos Point Gala Dinner where she presented her Gold Label Collection in collaboration with the London Musici Orc... November 18, 2008 Where: At the Chaos Point Gala Dinner where she presented her Gold Label Collection in collaboration with the London Musici Orchestra in aid of the NSPCC in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2008 Dave M. Benett
February 21, 2009 Where: Backstage at the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during the London Fashion Week a/w 2009. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2009 D... February 21, 2009 Where: Backstage at the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show during the London Fashion Week a/w 2009. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2009 Dave M. Benett
March 3, 2009 Where: At the Fortune Forum Summit cocktail party in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2009 Dave M. Benett
March 15, 2009 Where: At the UK film premiere of The Age of Stupid, in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2009 Dave M. Benett
October 2, 2009 Where: At her ready-to-wear Spring-Summer 2010 fashion show in Paris. Photo: PATRICK KOVARIK/2009 AFP
November 24, 2009 Where: At a press conference in Tokyo. Photo: KAZUHIRO NOGI/2009 AFP
December 12, 2009 Where: At the British Comedy Awards in London. Photo: Eamonn McCormack/2009 Eamonn McCormack
January 17, 2010 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood Milan Menswear Autumn/Winter 2010 show. Photo: Venturelli/2010 Venturelli
February 25, 2010 Where: At the Royal World Premiere of Alice In Wonderland in London, England. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2010 Dave M. Benett
March 24, 2010 Where: At the ICA fundraising gala in London. Photo: Jon Furniss/2010 Jon Furniss
September 6, 2010 Where: At Elle's 25th anniversary celebration in London. Photo: Mike Marsland/2010 Mike Marsland
October 1, 2010 Where: With Andreas Kronthaler at the Vivienne Westwood - Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011 After Party in Paris. Photo: Foc... October 1, 2010 Where: With Andreas Kronthaler at the Vivienne Westwood - Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011 After Party in Paris. Photo: Foc Kan/2010 FocKan
February 14, 2011 Where: At the ELLE Style Awards in London. Photo: Jon Furniss/2011 Jon Furniss
February 17, 2011 Where: At the private view of 'Do Not Abandon Me' a collaboration between Louise Bourgeois and Tracey Emin in London, England. ... February 17, 2011 Where: At the private view of 'Do Not Abandon Me' a collaboration between Louise Bourgeois and Tracey Emin in London, England. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2011 Dave M. Benett
February 18, 2011 Where: At a drinks reception launching London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2011 hosted by Samantha Cameron in London. Photo: Dav... February 18, 2011 Where: At a drinks reception launching London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2011 hosted by Samantha Cameron in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2011 Dave M. Benett
March 30, 2011 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood Los Angeles Store Opening. Photo: Donato Sardella/2011 Donato Sardella
July 3, 2011 Where: At her new workshop in Shoreditch, on July 03, 2011 in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2011 Dave M. Benett
August 5, 2011 Where: At the Premiere of Cosi Fan Tutte at the Haus fuer Mozart in Salzburg Photo: Hannes Magerstaedt/2011 Getty Images
September 7, 2011 Where: At La Galleria in London. Photo: Simon James/2011 Simon James
October 14, 2011 Where: At the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation in London. Photo: Nick Harvey/2011 Nick Harvey
January 15, 2012 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood Fall-winter 2012-2013 Menswear collection show. Photo: OLIVIER MORIN/2012 AFP
February 19, 2012 Where: With Andreas Kronthaler at the Vivienne Westwood aftershow dinner in London, England. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2012 Dave ... February 19, 2012 Where: With Andreas Kronthaler at the Vivienne Westwood aftershow dinner in London, England. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2012 Dave M. Benett
March 22, 2012 Where: At the launch of a new Beauty Movement by The Body Shop, Beauty With Heart in London. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/2012 Getty ... March 22, 2012 Where: At the launch of a new Beauty Movement by The Body Shop, Beauty With Heart in London. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/2012 Getty Images
May 17, 2012 Where: At a Bloomberg Television interview in London. Photo: Simon Dawson/2012 Bloomberg
May 23, 2012 Where: At A Celebration of the Arts at Royal Academy of Arts in London, England. Photo: Nick Harvey/2012 Nick Harvey
June 29, 2012 Where: At an evening of cocktails and discussion with Dame Vivienne Westwood for the Enviromental Justice Foundation in London. Ph... June 29, 2012 Where: At an evening of cocktails and discussion with Dame Vivienne Westwood for the Enviromental Justice Foundation in London. Photo: Gareth Davies/2012 Gareth Davies
August 9, 2012 Where: At an olympic celebration dinner hosted by Naomi Campbell in partnership with Fashion For Relief in London. Photo: Danny M... August 9, 2012 Where: At an olympic celebration dinner hosted by Naomi Campbell in partnership with Fashion For Relief in London. Photo: Danny Martindale/2012 Danny Martindale
December 4, 2012 Where: At a cocktail reception at the 4th Fortune Forum Summit in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2012 Dave M. Benett
March 19, 2013 Where: At a dinner to celebrate The David Bowie Is exhibition in partnership with Gucci and Sennheiser in London. Photo: Dave M.... March 19, 2013 Where: At a dinner to celebrate The David Bowie Is exhibition in partnership with Gucci and Sennheiser in London. Photo: Dave M. Benett/2013 Dave M. Benett
February 16, 2014 Where: At the Vivienne Westwood Red Label Fall 2014 show in London. Photo: Tristan Fewings/2014 Getty Images
March 18, 2014 Where: At a private lunch which she hosted to showcase her new PETA campaign in London. Photo: David M. Benett/2014 David M. Bene... March 18, 2014 Where: At a private lunch which she hosted to showcase her new PETA campaign in London. Photo: David M. Benett/2014 David M. Benett
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