What do you think?
Rate this book
Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood is one of the icons of our age. Fashion designer, activist, co-creator of punk, global brand and grandmother; a true legend. Her career successfully spanned five decades and her work has influenced millions of people across the world.
For the first and only time, Vivienne Westwood has written a personal memoir, collaborating with award-winning biographer Ian Kelly, to describe the events, people and ideas that shaped her extraordinary life.
Told in all its glamour and glory, and with her unique voice, unexpected perspective and passionate honesty, this is her story.
For the first and only time, Vivienne Westwood has written a personal memoir, collaborating with award-winning biographer Ian Kelly, to describe the events, people and ideas that shaped her extraordinary life.
Told in all its glamour and glory, and with her unique voice, unexpected perspective and passionate honesty, this is her story.
Audible Audio
First published October 14, 2014
191 people are currently reading
2918 people want to read
About the author
Ian Kelly
40 books31 followersIan Kelly is a multi-award-nominated actor, writer and presenter of TV documentaries. He is the Sunday Times Biographer of the Year 2008-9 (Casanova). He is currently filming the last of the Harry Potter films as Hermione's father, he transfers in the National Theatre's production of The Pitmen Painters to Broadway in 2010.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
August 13, 2016
Yeah, so I really didn’t want to write this review.
It’s not often I’m lost for words, but this little project had me in hard-core procrastination mode. I stared out the window. I turned the heater on and off. I picked off my nail polish then painted it back on again. I even contemplated cleaning the bathroom.
Because, honestly, who the hell am I to be critiquing the life story of the grande dame of British fashion? It’s not like I can add any real value to the conversation.
Vivienne Westwood is, after all, the Queen of Punk. She didn’t just write her own rules, she doused the rulebook in hard liquor, set it alight, tore up what was left, then stuck it all back together with electrical tape.
She stunned 1960s London (who were still well and truly in the grips of Beatlemania) by chopping off her hair and bleaching it white-blonde. She was the pivotal player in creating the musical mayhem that is the Sex Pistols.
She is an opinionated anti-authoritarian, a one-time freedom fighter, and an environmentalist who puts her (substantial amounts of) money where her mouth is. She is the definition of fierce, and I think I want to be her when I grow up.
We have Queen Viv to thank for pretty much any sartorial trend since the seventies. If you’re under the age of 40, you can probably blame Vivienne for the smelly ripped jeans you refused to part with as a teenager, for corsets as outerwear à la Madonna, and for that way-too-short tartan mini you used to wear out clubbing (don’t worry, me too).
So, if I can’t dissect Vivienne’s story to the nth degree, what else can I pull apart? The writing style perhaps? It’s not often I read anything without picking at an oxford comma here, a dangling modifier there. But it’s Ian Kelly I’m up against here. If you’re not familiar with his work, jump on Google. I’ve got as much hope of finding flaws in his work as I have of ever actually meeting Vivienne in person.
Ian Kelly spent several years meticulously researching this book, and it shows in every quote and anecdote. Vivienne of the punk-rock era leaps off the page in all her bleached-blonde, pleather-clad glory. She is not just the effortlessly cool chick you desperately want to be best friends with. She is the person you’d give anything to be – just for a moment – despite her abject poverty and asshole of an ex-husband.
I wonder if anyone has lived such a vibrant and influential life, simply by trusting their instincts and doing whatever they f**king well wanted.
To conclude, if you’re even remotely interested in history, culture, fashion, art, music, or just in generally being bad-ass at whatever it is that you do, you need to read this book! And put me out of my misery so I don’t have to write another word about it!
More reviews at http://www.fleurmurphy.com.au/review
It’s not often I’m lost for words, but this little project had me in hard-core procrastination mode. I stared out the window. I turned the heater on and off. I picked off my nail polish then painted it back on again. I even contemplated cleaning the bathroom.
Because, honestly, who the hell am I to be critiquing the life story of the grande dame of British fashion? It’s not like I can add any real value to the conversation.
Vivienne Westwood is, after all, the Queen of Punk. She didn’t just write her own rules, she doused the rulebook in hard liquor, set it alight, tore up what was left, then stuck it all back together with electrical tape.
She stunned 1960s London (who were still well and truly in the grips of Beatlemania) by chopping off her hair and bleaching it white-blonde. She was the pivotal player in creating the musical mayhem that is the Sex Pistols.
She is an opinionated anti-authoritarian, a one-time freedom fighter, and an environmentalist who puts her (substantial amounts of) money where her mouth is. She is the definition of fierce, and I think I want to be her when I grow up.
We have Queen Viv to thank for pretty much any sartorial trend since the seventies. If you’re under the age of 40, you can probably blame Vivienne for the smelly ripped jeans you refused to part with as a teenager, for corsets as outerwear à la Madonna, and for that way-too-short tartan mini you used to wear out clubbing (don’t worry, me too).
So, if I can’t dissect Vivienne’s story to the nth degree, what else can I pull apart? The writing style perhaps? It’s not often I read anything without picking at an oxford comma here, a dangling modifier there. But it’s Ian Kelly I’m up against here. If you’re not familiar with his work, jump on Google. I’ve got as much hope of finding flaws in his work as I have of ever actually meeting Vivienne in person.
Ian Kelly spent several years meticulously researching this book, and it shows in every quote and anecdote. Vivienne of the punk-rock era leaps off the page in all her bleached-blonde, pleather-clad glory. She is not just the effortlessly cool chick you desperately want to be best friends with. She is the person you’d give anything to be – just for a moment – despite her abject poverty and asshole of an ex-husband.
I wonder if anyone has lived such a vibrant and influential life, simply by trusting their instincts and doing whatever they f**king well wanted.
To conclude, if you’re even remotely interested in history, culture, fashion, art, music, or just in generally being bad-ass at whatever it is that you do, you need to read this book! And put me out of my misery so I don’t have to write another word about it!
More reviews at http://www.fleurmurphy.com.au/review
January 25, 2015
Vivienne Westwood: single most important fashion phenomenon to come out of Britain or loony old bat? Who can say, to quote Bubble from AbFab (possibly another contender for the former) and this book will do nothing to help you make up your mind. I do think it's perfectly possible to hold at least two completely contradictory views of her, partly because of longevity and also as she's hardly been exactly consistent herself (think safety pin queen and accepting a gong for instance). My toes curled at her Question Time appearance a couple of years ago when, as the token celeb on the panel, she seemed even less able than the usual pundits and politicians lined up alongside her to give a straight answer. Worse, although theirs were dissembling and flawed, hers were dissembling, flawed and gabblingly incoherent. A bit like asking your great aunt at a party for her views on rap and jungle when she's already been on the Emva pale cream for an hour. At the same time, all right thinking people would have bristled with indignation at the high priestess of suburban smug, Sue Lawley, for her sneery, denigrating interview when she was Wogan's holiday relief one time in the 80s. Ok to ask politicians impertinent questions about their sex lives but her complete lack of research or knowledge on Westwood was a nadir even for that sort of one size fits all tea time twaddle.
So, to the book: in a novel idea, author Ian Kelly (no, me neither) has framed this as a series of conversations or interviews with the grande dame and this is probably his undoing. Though nowhere near as bad as Private Eye's review makes out, it does go on a bit and gives just the authorised view: of punk, of Malcolm, of the British establishment. Though that view is rarely consistent over more than three or four chapters not all of which can be put down to changing views with ageing.
So it's self-indulgent, rambling, unexpurgated and apparently unedited and goes on way too long, but it has a huge amount of entertainment value as well as a sort of 'treat with caution' eyewitness history. Those who grew up through her prime will undoubtedly recognise the landscape and characters; those who didn't will probably be baffled or bemused. Oddly, the best assessment of Vivienne comes from Johnny Rotten, whose My Life Uncensored appeared roughly simultaneously: "All of her obsessions paid off. She means what she does. It's just sometimes it's too meaningful and there's too much of it." Quite.
So, to the book: in a novel idea, author Ian Kelly (no, me neither) has framed this as a series of conversations or interviews with the grande dame and this is probably his undoing. Though nowhere near as bad as Private Eye's review makes out, it does go on a bit and gives just the authorised view: of punk, of Malcolm, of the British establishment. Though that view is rarely consistent over more than three or four chapters not all of which can be put down to changing views with ageing.
So it's self-indulgent, rambling, unexpurgated and apparently unedited and goes on way too long, but it has a huge amount of entertainment value as well as a sort of 'treat with caution' eyewitness history. Those who grew up through her prime will undoubtedly recognise the landscape and characters; those who didn't will probably be baffled or bemused. Oddly, the best assessment of Vivienne comes from Johnny Rotten, whose My Life Uncensored appeared roughly simultaneously: "All of her obsessions paid off. She means what she does. It's just sometimes it's too meaningful and there's too much of it." Quite.
Read
January 3, 2022genre : biography, fashionLook who’s finished their first book of 2022!
indie? : no
This is such an amazing book about the ongoing legend of Vivienne Westwood, who played an indispensable role in the formation of punk. The book opens with Kelly at a fashion event with Westwood, and as readers, it felt like we were also there, following Westwood around as she chats about her life.
Vivienne Westwood covers everything from Westwood’s childhood, her motherhood (sons Ben Westwood & Joseph Corré), her intellectually stimulating and abusive ex-partner Malcolm McLaren (Joe’s father) with whom she shaped punk, her post-Malcolm years of launching her own brand, and her passion in political activism. I personally find it all very fascinating and informative about how Westwood shaped the world around her as well as how the world shaped her.
Toward the end where the main focus was on her activism, I love how Westwood said that everything costs less than it’s supposed to because the Earth is carrying that subsidy for us. (And yet it is also true that the current world economy does not allow us all to have the luxury of only purchasing sustainable items.)
Westwood’s designs have always been political, so everything in her life is interconnected. I did have issues with some of her past designs, but I guess back then nobody knows better so it was fine? In addition, I had hoped they would discuss cultural appropriation in fashion since it is clear Westwood gets inspiration from both the history and other cultures. They did not, and that would’ve been an interesting conversation.
It baffles me that Kelly kept on deadnaming and misgendering Chelsea Manning, who came out publicly in 2013. Note that this book was published in 2014, and there was one sentence that mentioned her name, so Kelly wasn’t exactly clueless. This issue made me unable to give the book a rating.
Sometimes I forget how much I love memoirs and biographies. After Vivienne Westwood, I’m definitely interested in reading about more fashion designers.
content warnings: sexual topics, abusive relationship, scam, deadnaming, misgendering, incidents of racism, murder (not Westwood), drug abuse (not Westwood), drug addiction (not Westwood), sexism, teacher–student relationship, death by cancer
January 30, 2016
F***ing (s)exquisite!
July 19, 2021
The first part of the book - London 60s and 70s, the punk scene, Sex Pistols and the girl with guts and ambition called Vivianne - was the most genuine and interesting part of the book for me. I could feel for her; the emotional and financial ups and downs and yet her courageous stubborn endurance. The second part of the story was manipulative and shallow. Now we have this recognized, wealthy designer that’s come out down under and flew into the stardom. The throne makes her not have a sharper and more critical look of her own industry, but shockingly makes her believe that she is among “the select” group of people that are given rare talents to carry on the culture of our world!? Hmm. Vivianne brand is about revolutions, so she is talking a lot about environment and capitalism and banking and debt, etc. Cool, but also contrived as there is that elephant in the room! What about the the fashion industry? The third biggest and one of the biggest polluters. What about all the toxic colorings that are let out of the factories into streams, rivers and seas? What about all those unsold clothes? Is it true that the grand designers burn them as not to be shamed by lowering their exorbitant prices? She advises to buy less at more expensive price! Like what? Several hundred € for a tee shirt, which production costs one € per shirt in Madagascar! Fashion houses move from one poor place to another for their production to pay as little as possible. And then Vivienne speaks so imperiously about “profits!” However, at distance. Never shedding the real knowledge of what’s going on in her industry, which is revealing in a sense of the Emperor without the Clothes story. She reads a lot admirably, but selectively.
June 17, 2024
An amazing woman who lived a full and fascinating life. The topic was wonderful, but the actual writing was clunky with loads of direct quotes from Vivienne who was more interested in setting the record straight (she had nothing really bad to say about anyone, even her bastard ex-husband who, seemingly, everyone hated) than telling a good story (and there is so much to tell!). By all means, ready about Vivienne Westwood! But there are loads of biographies out there. Find a better one than this.
September 27, 2024
Una de las biografías más interesantes que leí. Vivienne diseñó estudiando muchísimo los tiempos pasados como el Renacimiento, Barroco, Rococó. Vistió a los punks en los 80' y para mi sorpresa le escribió varias canciones a los pistols. Frases como "We are dangerous short of culture, because culture is the antidote to propaganda and consumption o "Be reasonable: demand impossible" capturan su espíritu punk, aún presente.
Comenzó su recorrido con cero libras, dos hijos, un marido ausente y sin formación formal en moda, pero con una inmensa pasión por hacer ropa. Con un hambre intelectual impresionante, siendo una ávida lectora y amante de la historia del arte, fue construyendo paso a paso una marca reconocida mundialmente. Le tomó diez años alcanzar el éxito. Hay personas solo van para adelante. Tras varias colecciones que rompieron paradigmas en la moda —el punk, mezclar el pasado con el futuro, siluetas exageradas, los corsés, el tartán, entre otros— dedicó sus últimos años a hacer campaña por el cambio climático, ya con más de 80 años. ¿Cuántas veces se percibe la moda como algo frívolo? Aunque mantenía un discurso irónicamente anticapitalista, se repite varias veces diciendo "think for yourself, don't get sold stuff", distinguiéndose de otros diseñadores al hacer política constantemente y utilizando su plataforma para causas ecológicas y sociales.
Comenzó su recorrido con cero libras, dos hijos, un marido ausente y sin formación formal en moda, pero con una inmensa pasión por hacer ropa. Con un hambre intelectual impresionante, siendo una ávida lectora y amante de la historia del arte, fue construyendo paso a paso una marca reconocida mundialmente. Le tomó diez años alcanzar el éxito. Hay personas solo van para adelante. Tras varias colecciones que rompieron paradigmas en la moda —el punk, mezclar el pasado con el futuro, siluetas exageradas, los corsés, el tartán, entre otros— dedicó sus últimos años a hacer campaña por el cambio climático, ya con más de 80 años. ¿Cuántas veces se percibe la moda como algo frívolo? Aunque mantenía un discurso irónicamente anticapitalista, se repite varias veces diciendo "think for yourself, don't get sold stuff", distinguiéndose de otros diseñadores al hacer política constantemente y utilizando su plataforma para causas ecológicas y sociales.
April 12, 2024
A very large book and probably could have been a few chapters shorter however I really enjoyed it. Was an interesting history of how she created the brand and how she grew up
June 23, 2015
Diese Biografie hat meinen Respekt für Vivienne Westwood wachsen lassen, denn eins steht nach diesem Buch fest: Wer hart arbeitet und niemals aufgibt, der kann es schaffen.
Diese Buch besteht aus Interviews und Erinnerungen, die sehr schön lebendig in das Leben der Modeschöpferin entführen. Der Autor bringt einem Vivienne Westwood sehr nah und es ist nach der Lektüre so, als hätte man Selbst eine Zeit mit ihr verbracht und sich von ihr ihre Lebensgeschichte erzählen lassen. Der Autor hat es wunderbar geschafft durch die Gesprächsatmosphäre den Eindruck zu erwecken, dass man mit ihr zusammensitzt und ihr zuhört, wie sie mit leiser und ruhiger Stimme plaudert und reflektiert, wo sich dann immer mal ihr Ehmann, Freunde oder die Kinder einmischen.
Und so lässt sie uns teilhaben an der Nachkriegszeit in der sie heranwuchs. Eine Zeit in der DIY noch nicht chic, sondern notwendig war. Sie nimmt uns mit zu den Geburtsorten des Punk und schildert ihre arbeitsreiche Zeit mit ihrem Partner Malcolm McLaren.
Wir erfahren, dass sie immer nur am arbeiten war, zwei Kinder versorgend und einen Mann unterstützend, der versuchte seine Träume zu leben und der ein purer Egoist war. (jedoch ein unglaublich inspirierender Egoist) Bishin zu ihrem Einsatz für den Planet und eine bessere Zukunft nicht nur für ihre Nachkommen, sondern für alle Generationen, die noch kommen werden.
Vivienne Westwood hat im Leben nichts geschenkt bekommen. Für sie war ihr Leben meistens ein Kampf - Egal ob gegen Konventionen, Malcom oder die Geschichtsvollzieher. Es ist wirklich ein wahres Wunder, dass sie nie aufgegeben hat. Doch wer beharrlich geht, kommt auch ans Ziel.
Warum man zu diesem Buch greifen sollte?
1. Wenn man sich für die Entstehungsgeschichte des Punk interessiert, für Mode und Vivienne Westwood.
2. Wenn man Geschichten über starke Frauen mag, die niemals aufgeben und für die harte Arbeit kein Fremdwort ist. Natürlich will man sie manchmal schütteln, wenn Malcolm wieder einmal die Familie auf Problemen sitzen lässt und sie ihm trotzdem noch den Rücken stärkt, aber letztlich ist sie eine starke Frau, auch wenn ihre Freunde meinten sie sei zeitweise eine echte Schande für den Feminismus gewesen.
3. Man unkonventionelle Leben mag. Denn Vivienne ging und geht immer andere Wege als die meisten Menschen. Sei es in Sachen Kindererziehung, Beruf, Beziehungen... Es ist kein Leben an dem ich mich orientieren würde, aber extrem spannend darüber zu lesen.
Diese Buch besteht aus Interviews und Erinnerungen, die sehr schön lebendig in das Leben der Modeschöpferin entführen. Der Autor bringt einem Vivienne Westwood sehr nah und es ist nach der Lektüre so, als hätte man Selbst eine Zeit mit ihr verbracht und sich von ihr ihre Lebensgeschichte erzählen lassen. Der Autor hat es wunderbar geschafft durch die Gesprächsatmosphäre den Eindruck zu erwecken, dass man mit ihr zusammensitzt und ihr zuhört, wie sie mit leiser und ruhiger Stimme plaudert und reflektiert, wo sich dann immer mal ihr Ehmann, Freunde oder die Kinder einmischen.
Und so lässt sie uns teilhaben an der Nachkriegszeit in der sie heranwuchs. Eine Zeit in der DIY noch nicht chic, sondern notwendig war. Sie nimmt uns mit zu den Geburtsorten des Punk und schildert ihre arbeitsreiche Zeit mit ihrem Partner Malcolm McLaren.
Wir erfahren, dass sie immer nur am arbeiten war, zwei Kinder versorgend und einen Mann unterstützend, der versuchte seine Träume zu leben und der ein purer Egoist war. (jedoch ein unglaublich inspirierender Egoist) Bishin zu ihrem Einsatz für den Planet und eine bessere Zukunft nicht nur für ihre Nachkommen, sondern für alle Generationen, die noch kommen werden.
Vivienne Westwood hat im Leben nichts geschenkt bekommen. Für sie war ihr Leben meistens ein Kampf - Egal ob gegen Konventionen, Malcom oder die Geschichtsvollzieher. Es ist wirklich ein wahres Wunder, dass sie nie aufgegeben hat. Doch wer beharrlich geht, kommt auch ans Ziel.
Warum man zu diesem Buch greifen sollte?
1. Wenn man sich für die Entstehungsgeschichte des Punk interessiert, für Mode und Vivienne Westwood.
2. Wenn man Geschichten über starke Frauen mag, die niemals aufgeben und für die harte Arbeit kein Fremdwort ist. Natürlich will man sie manchmal schütteln, wenn Malcolm wieder einmal die Familie auf Problemen sitzen lässt und sie ihm trotzdem noch den Rücken stärkt, aber letztlich ist sie eine starke Frau, auch wenn ihre Freunde meinten sie sei zeitweise eine echte Schande für den Feminismus gewesen.
3. Man unkonventionelle Leben mag. Denn Vivienne ging und geht immer andere Wege als die meisten Menschen. Sei es in Sachen Kindererziehung, Beruf, Beziehungen... Es ist kein Leben an dem ich mich orientieren würde, aber extrem spannend darüber zu lesen.
November 9, 2025
Westwood ist seit langem einer der wichtigsten Köpfe, oder besser gesagt Hände, der westlichen Modewelt. In den letzten Jahren hat sie durch das junge, internetorientierte Kuratieren neue Bedeutung erlangt. Was ich in einem Buch, das so schön mit Lob und atemberaubenden Fotos geschmückt ist, zu bemängeln habe: Selbst die eingefleischtesten Vivi-Fans können sie nicht ohne einen Hauch von Ironie als "den ersten Punk" bezeichnen. Im Ernst: Solche Lobeshymnen, und seien sie noch so übertrieben, erweisen der unterirdischen, eindeutig antikapitalistischen Punkszene, der Vivienne ihre Inspiration verdankt, einen Bärendienst.
April 10, 2016
What a book. The size of it put me off, but it was actually a relatively quick-ish read as there were tons of illustrations. She's led a very inspiring life, and the first half was great, but the book was a little to glossy and perfect, i don't think it was a true warts and all book, as there's nothing truly critical of Vivienne, and so little about her second marriage. But still, absolutely fascinating, and not just about clothes and punk. I salute you Vivienne, more women need to be like you!!
January 2, 2015
It was great to learn more about the designer Vivienne Westwood and mostly it was an enjoyable book that I found hard to put down. However there was something annoying about the format and it seemed poorly edited as was very repetitive in parts with some contradictory parts between direct quotes and author narrative. The author clearly loves Westwood which is great and why not - but it parts it seems less than balanced as a result.
February 11, 2017
I liked the bits about punk and World's End and the Sex Pistols. The rest is advertising. But maybe that's because the author is so infatuated with Westwood. It would have been better if this was written by someone less involved.
January 10, 2023
An in-depth exploration of a woman in her own words - one who utterly shifted the cultural landscape in how art interacts.. the overlap of music, fashion, politics and visual culture. Who created a movement that changed the language of "youth" forever, who took something as basic as understanding women have breasts and hips and designing for it as opposed to against it, who continued to work tirelessly on human rights and climate campaigns til the day she passed. The impact Vivienne has had is unmistakable and unmatched. This book is a wonderful chronology of that life. RIP 💫
February 26, 2024
Beautiful book important for anyone who is interested in art, fashion, punk, the role of artist/celebrity as an activist, Making art while old, making art while having kids, perseverance, not giving a f*ck, patience, honestly this book is my new bible.
April 3, 2021
Fascinating biography of a total icon
December 29, 2023
An inspiration!
May 28, 2025
ikoon.
January 27, 2022
Vivienne is the OG GIRL BOSS and pure punk. Her Witches collection is iconic and transitional, and it testifies of her love of historical pastiche as well as her active stance towards current sociopolitical issues. This book was excellent and made me love her even more.
June 13, 2025
what a brilliant memoir about a brilliant and revolutionary woman!
Read
June 9, 2025DNF
May 29, 2022
Highly recommend, if you are interested in fashion, human rights, environment, contemporary history (U.K.), music, and how these are interwoven in one person, Vivienne Westwood. The book was surprisingly captivating. Not mentioned in the book, but is related, check out the 'buffalo hat' of Pharrell Williams and the music video "Marilyn Monroe".
March 29, 2017
Whether you like fashion, punk, activism, or stories of perseverance and the strength of real people this is a fabulous book.
I've been a fan of Vivienne's fashion for some time and every time I saw a photo of her I just thought "This really looks like someone I need to know". I was not mistaken. Though this co-authored autobiography is as close as I can get to 'knowing' Vivienne the impact it's left on me is incredible.
Finding out how much of my own life she influenced. All the fashion I adore most comes from Vivienne's career. She talks about how clothes give you confidence and how punk especially was for making you feel more than what the world made you feel like.
When I left my abusive family punk clothes and Lolita fashion especially started to give me confidence and helped me find a voice, and to find out that all of that was started by Vivienne- it just gave me this very satisfied feeling on coming full circle.
She inspired me to design and sew my own wedding dress and husband's suit, and here she's been helping me find the person I was even before I knew her name.
I've been a fan of Vivienne's fashion for some time and every time I saw a photo of her I just thought "This really looks like someone I need to know". I was not mistaken. Though this co-authored autobiography is as close as I can get to 'knowing' Vivienne the impact it's left on me is incredible.
Finding out how much of my own life she influenced. All the fashion I adore most comes from Vivienne's career. She talks about how clothes give you confidence and how punk especially was for making you feel more than what the world made you feel like.
When I left my abusive family punk clothes and Lolita fashion especially started to give me confidence and helped me find a voice, and to find out that all of that was started by Vivienne- it just gave me this very satisfied feeling on coming full circle.
She inspired me to design and sew my own wedding dress and husband's suit, and here she's been helping me find the person I was even before I knew her name.
October 15, 2024
Non penso che sia corretto criticare biografie, in generale, per cui non posso che concertarmi sul come sia stata scritta.
Prima di tutto ammetto di non aver molto apprezzato la cautela con cui si è scritto di Malcom McLaren, che sicuramente non si merita nessuna gentilezza.
Oltre a questa nota negativa, questa è una bella biografia, in cui ogni cosa viene raccontata direttamente da Vivienne e non c'è bisogno di andare a documentarsi da qualche altra parte. Ian Kelly (ovviamente) è molto attento ad aggiungere anche un contesto storico e culturale alle storie di Vivienne, dando quindi una visione a 360 gradi delle situazioni che l'hanno portata al successo odierno. Tende molto alla ripetizione, e questo potrebbe essere il suo unico problema, rendendo certi punti ridondanti. Ho adorato leggere frasi prese direttamente dai protagonisti della storia, li rende molto più "reali" di quanto possano essere nell'immaginario comune.
Prima di tutto ammetto di non aver molto apprezzato la cautela con cui si è scritto di Malcom McLaren, che sicuramente non si merita nessuna gentilezza.
Oltre a questa nota negativa, questa è una bella biografia, in cui ogni cosa viene raccontata direttamente da Vivienne e non c'è bisogno di andare a documentarsi da qualche altra parte. Ian Kelly (ovviamente) è molto attento ad aggiungere anche un contesto storico e culturale alle storie di Vivienne, dando quindi una visione a 360 gradi delle situazioni che l'hanno portata al successo odierno. Tende molto alla ripetizione, e questo potrebbe essere il suo unico problema, rendendo certi punti ridondanti. Ho adorato leggere frasi prese direttamente dai protagonisti della storia, li rende molto più "reali" di quanto possano essere nell'immaginario comune.
January 28, 2016
"Die Früchte des Zorns gehört zu meinen Lieblingsbüchern. Den Film habe ich noch nie gesehen. Wahrscheinlich ist er nicht so gut wie das Buch, das sind Filme nie. Sie verraten zu viel und überlassen zu wenig der Fantasie. Es gleicht ein bisschen dem Unterschied zwischen einem Gemälde und einem Foto. Man kann sich nur richtig in die Geschichte hineinversetzen, indem man das Buch liest. Mein Leben ist immer noch großartig, aber die meisten Leben habe ich geführt, indem ich las - sie waren spannender und aufregender als mein reales Leben. Wenn man nicht liest, lebt man nur einmal. Wenn man Bücher liest, kann man hundert Leben führen. Und noch viel mehr." - Vivienne Westwood
August 23, 2015
An amazing auto/biography (it's a collaborative effort between Ms Westwood and Ian Kelly, so a bit of both). It really is a great summation of the life and work of Vivienne Westwood, and the things which forged her strong passions - for clothes, for punk, for change, for revolution. This book really does what a biography needs to - give enough information to sum up a person. I was a fan of Ms Westwood before this, but even more so now, and I feel I have a more thorough appreciation of her work and manifesto. Brilliant.
June 25, 2015
An interesting and entertaining read with loads of zeitgeist of the London of the 60ies and 70ies. V. W. is an amazing woman working hard all her life to become who she was meant to. I'm full of admiration, she is an icon indeed.
March 13, 2016
One of the best books I've EVER read, if not THE best. It's just so wondrously inspiring and full of life that now that I've finished it, I just want to read it again and I can only hope the next book I take into my hands is half as good. Beautiful.
February 9, 2016
Probably the first biography I have enjoyed. I'm usually an escapist into novels. I learnt a lot and found the ups and downs of her life fascinating. Wondering if there are any other biographies I'd find equally interesting.
November 10, 2014
Great read although I would have liked Vivienne to have written in her own words throughout rather than read the co authors analysis of Vivienne's life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews