Get a Life: The Diaries of Vivienne Westwood

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In 1992, Westwood was awarded an OBE, which she collected from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. I wish she'd simply written a real diary rather than 'dictated' one for an audience, as it feels to me in this case. Before I read this book, I think I just kind of figured that fashion designers were just high-class citizens who uphold a bourgeois status, not really socially and culturally aware. This book is in the form of a journal that Vivienne kept from 2010 through 2016, containing drawings, art she admired and photographs.

And then there are the personal colour photographs, fashion, celebrities, musings and reflections; the passion that is Vivienne Westwood. Fashion designer, political activist, national icon: Vivienne Westwood sets down her unique vision of the world in her blog, Get A Life. While the diary was written, primarily, with the intention of warning people of the danger we’re in from climate change (a subject that feels particularly pertinent given fracking’s recent UK go-ahead, despite a rejection from Lancashire council), it is, as Vivienne puts it, also a great thing to do for yourself.

Not only was Vivienne Westwood a punk icon and fashion inventor, she was also an activist for climate change and a major supporter and friend of Julian Assange. I’ve been a supporter of Leonard, a Native American who has been wrongly imprisoned for 35 years, for a long time. Find your next must-read with the Serpent’s Tail newsletter and discover gripping crime and mystery from Viper Books. I totally admire her dedication and energy and can only hope to be that active when I reach her age!

Beginning with a great sweep through those early decades of activism and fashion (activism in fashion) – rebelling through clothes at 430, Kings Road; plundering history for the Pirates collection; quietly shaping a manifesto that would later evolve into the Climate Revolution project – the idea is to access Vivienne’s point of view. I will surely remember this book but found it naive sometimes to believe you can do anything to influence few thousands people in the world who rule 7 billion. Spanning six years of Climate Revolution, fashion and activism, the book is as provocative as you would expect from Britain’s punk dame. remarked many times by Lee and John as the the one who introduced punk to fashion in the 70's and 80's.Reading Vivienne’s thoughts, in her own words, is as fascinating and provocative as you would expect from Britain’s punk dame – a woman who always says exactly what she believes. At last, I wanted to cry out, a celebrity who recognizes that politicians only care about themselves and who cares about the earth and who will actually do things about the things she cares about. Her career has successfully spanned five decades and her work has influenced millions across the world. Very motivating read, to Vivennes's way of thinking and the time she devotes for environmental causes.