Have just finished my first book of the Summer, Fashion + Perversity by Fred Vermorel, about the life and times of Miss Vivienne Westwood (1950s-1995) by one of her brothers oldest friends.
It is split into three different chapters the first is a collection of anecdotes and interviews that people around Westwood or Westwood herself has divulged about her upbringing, her relationship with Malcom Mcalaren, the infamous SEX boutique, the SEX PISTOLS and much more. Though you do come from it feeling slightly shortchanged as there are so many nuggets and stories told and not enough detail that most of it feels quite throwaway. Bit and pieces stuck together like a mood board vaguely flowing together but never giving much clarity to the bigger picture. This is also reflected in the structure of the chapter with timelines obscured by the juxtaposition of Viennes's childhood and the odd relationship between Malcom and Vivienne. (M+V)
The Second Chapter however is rather different the author this time speaks from his own experience giving us a good few stories about M+V, as well as going into the authors life and the circumstances which surrounded the art scene, punk movement and French Riots of the 1970s. Though it feels a bit like he got the advance from the publisher to talk about M+V and really wanted to write his own autobiography seeing as this takes up most of the pages. Don't get me wrong there is some interesting parts to this indulgence if only for his reference points, it just never gets exciting as you hope it would be, only wavering on the sidelines.
The Third Chapter is most disappointing it is a collection of random annecdotes through1960's-1995 when he interviewed various people from the Vivienne Westwood team as they were to bring their 'Les femmes ne connaissent pas toute leur coquetterie' (Women do not know all their coquettishness.) collection to Paris for their annual catwalk show. It offers the sort of anecdotes a person tells you when they have run out of anything to say, a nothingness which is neither insightful or particularly interesting, just a bit pointless.
The Second Chapter however is rather different the author this time speaks from his own experience giving us a good few stories about M+V, as well as going into the authors life and the circumstances which surrounded the art scene, punk movement and French Riots of the 1970s. Though it feels a bit like he got the advance from the publisher to talk about M+V and really wanted to write his own autobiography seeing as this takes up most of the pages. Don't get me wrong there is some interesting parts to this indulgence if only for his reference points, it just never gets exciting as you hope it would be, only wavering on the sidelines.
The Third Chapter is most disappointing it is a collection of random annecdotes through1960's-1995 when he interviewed various people from the Vivienne Westwood team as they were to bring their 'Les femmes ne connaissent pas toute leur coquetterie' (Women do not know all their coquettishness.) collection to Paris for their annual catwalk show. It offers the sort of anecdotes a person tells you when they have run out of anything to say, a nothingness which is neither insightful or particularly interesting, just a bit pointless.
Though for its flaws I would recommend this book for its humorous first two chapters, to flick through but never to read the entirety as it never gives anything but a fleeting glance of Westwood or her partner. This is not a definitive guide but a appetizer for its interesting subject matter.
x
P.s. The author is now apparently a University Lecturer and has produced videos that are owned by Saaitchi, written many different books mostly about media and fandom. Not sure i can believe it. There is hope for me afterall :)
x
P.s. The author is now apparently a University Lecturer and has produced videos that are owned by Saaitchi, written many different books mostly about media and fandom. Not sure i can believe it. There is hope for me afterall :)
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