Vivienne Westwood on Horse Makeup and Greek Prostitutes
Vivienne Westwood may have just celebrated her 70th birthday, but the British powerhouse designer and activist is nowhere near slowing down.
“In the morning, I practice 15 minutes of yoga,” Westwood told the Wall Street Journal of her exercise regime, which also includes cycling. As for that fair skin? “My beauty secret is absolutely no sun.”
Conventional beauty isn’t what interests Westwood—at least, judging by the makeup from her Fall 2011 show.
“I very rarely watch my own fashion shows, but the makeup for my Fall 2011 show was just brilliant,” she said. “Andreas [Kronthaler, Westwood’s husband and creative director] went to the makeup artist and told her, ‘Make them look like horses.’ They looked like they came from another planet; it was like this amazing parallel universe.”
Westwood recently opened her first U.S. flagship in Los Angeles with a fête attended by young Hollywood stars like Mischa Barton, Zoe Saldana, and Malin Akerman—though she says she’s less than optimistic about the younger generation.
“Now, I don't put any faith in youth,” she said. “I do to the extent they're always idealistic, but the last lot of them have been brought up to be heavy consumers.”
The famously outspoken designer also shared her thoughts on feminism with the financial newspaper, saying, “I think men are much more insecure than women. In history, women had an awful lot more power and influence, from Greek prostitutes to the women who ran the salons right up until the first World War.
“I think that feminists have definitely underestimated the role that women have had historically. I think I would be insecure if I were to be a man; there's so much pressure on you.”
Get the full story at WSJ.com.
