Initial reaction:
Taking back control of gender in a rebellious explosion of tinsel, glitter and felt tip covered faces by Val Garland.
Fight for your right to party:
Soundtracked by the live, discordant punk of German band Die Hartjungs, Vivienne Westwood’s Gold Label show started in a particularly intense fashion. Titled “UNISEX”, the designer turned her political eye to take a stand against gendered silhouettes. Whether it was having male models in historical golden corsets and mini-skirts or petite girls in wide shouldered suits, Westwood proved that rules are made to be broken. Capes were a highlight, adding to deconstructed silhouettes: a flower-printed billowing parachute number was combined with a loose fitting ensemble, and a hooded version sported by one male model came in the same fabric his dress. Ultimately, the show was a fully-charged attack on gendered clothing.
Sealed with a kiss:
As well as having Gwendoline Christie walk on the show, famous for her androgynous role in Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth, Vivienne cast the face of her SS15 campaign, Paz de la Huerta, to close the show with a bang. The cult actress strutted down the catwalk in a top hat and shirtless suit jacket, accompanied by a hairy-chested, dress-wearing bride, who promptly lifted her veil and went in for the kiss of a lifetime – the closing scene of a gender non-conformative punk rock romance.
