Vivienne Westwood: MAN Proud & Pretty As A Picture
By Michelle Taylor
Photos by Giovanni Pucci

MILAN, Jan 17, 2005/ FW/ --- Yesterday afternoon Brits did Milan in style showing with class and ease to applause exactly what they are made of in this fantastically ‘Made in Italy’ proud fashion city.

Queen Vivienne is ever so MAN proud and pretty as a picture, hence it is no surprise that her show entitled ‘Portrait’, full of Italian renaissance allusion and French revolution flare packed in a crowd, after all, she herself made it to cult status long ago.

With male era icons as a backdrop and Bowie’s 1970’s hit Young Americans calling out subdued messages from an era where futuristic make-up and high boots became fashion to the masses, one was already smiling before the show began.

Stylized men reminiscent of 16th century poets and painters to the sounds of opera sashayed down the runway with floppy hats, voluminous blouses and pirate shirts.

Westwood manages like no other to combine and transform sartorial tradition, culture and history into a wardrobe as she mixes bondage cum punk style harnesses and zips on trousers and boots with classic knitwear and two and three-piece suits.

Her knitwear is exceptional, managing to turn the classic cardigan into the new jacket by combining knit styles and patterns, at first deceiving in their appearance and therefore endlessly charming.

Tailored delicacies of cashmere and wool are mixed and matched with denim, oversized fabric patches for shoulders on overcoats and jackets, while pants in techno fabric are tight fitting and finish just under the knee page boy style.

With decorations taken from nature, made up literally of tree branches, leaves and a bunch of chilli’s pinned to the lapel, Westwood manages to capture imagination, make fashion fun and take you on a journey that spans half a century.

Her show this afternoon in Milan was also the occasion in which she launched her men’s 2005/06 men’s luggage collection, a showcase of bags made specifically to complement the Man clothing collection with a definitive masculine appeal.

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood