I was still interested in the youth rebellion but never-the-less I stopped being a victim. Stopped trying to attack the establishment realizing that it takes too much of your energy.

Meaning of the quote

Vivienne Westwood, an English designer, explains that while she was still interested in young people fighting against the system, she realized that being a victim and constantly attacking the establishment was just draining her energy. Instead, she decided to stop trying to fight the system and focus her energy on more positive things.

About Vivienne Westwood

Vivienne Westwood was a pioneering English fashion designer who helped bring punk and new wave styles into the mainstream. She opened several shops, promoted political causes, and was ranked as one of the most influential artists in Britain in the last 50 years.

More about the author

More quotes from Vivienne Westwood

I think it’s important to vote.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

However, because Britain is young and exciting, I did show my second line here once or twice.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

Feminists wish women to seem like men. They’re not men.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I think dress, hairstyle and make-up are the crucial factors in projecting an attractive persona and give one the chance to enhance one’s best physical features.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

Even though it was the 70s, we found old stocks of clothes that had never been worn from the 50s and took them apart. I started to teach myself how to make clothes from that kind of formula.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

We wanted to step off our island and add the color of the third world. We got gold cigarette paper and stuck it around our teeth. We really did look like pirates and dressed to look the part.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

We based the look on rock ‘n roll right from the beginning.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

The young Japanese, especially, love to wear the latest thing and when they come to London they head for my shops as part of what they want to find in Britain.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I think some people would love to be able to make the clothes I make – and of course, I do influence them, but they keep simplifying, and minimalism doesn’t quite work.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

It is not possible for a man to be elegant without a touch of femininity.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

We moved into the back, made it into a little 50s sitting room and started to sell the records. We had an immediate success. For one thing, these Teddy Boys were thrilled to buy the records.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

My clothes are very popular in Japan.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

My son has followed fashion since he was a punk. He and I agree that fashion is about sex.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I don’t have space to enter into the examples or the history of this, so I’m left with having to make the bold statement that culture is extinct.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

The muscular, athletic type is not representative of the human race, who are varied in their physique.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

But, the thing is, since I always had my own little shop and direct access to the public, I’ve been able to build up a technique without marketing people ever telling me what the public wants.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I was the first person to have a punk rock hairstyle.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

The arts have only ever interested a small minority of people, which acted as a kind of nursery to support artists.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

What changed our lives forever was when Malcolm had the idea to sell rock ‘n roll records to trendy customers.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

It is extremely difficult to say how long the process actually took to finally achieve my fragrance, Boudoir, because there was a lot of time waiting around for other people.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I was still interested in the youth rebellion but never-the-less I stopped being a victim. Stopped trying to attack the establishment realizing that it takes too much of your energy.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

But, having a perfume and license, in general, is a financial necessity. A designer must, to reap back the money spent on prototypes and all that sort of thing.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I think feminists are unaware of the tremendous extent of the role of women in history.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I didn’t do anything at the Queen, whom I admire.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)

I am attracted to people who make this effort in knowing what suits them – they are individual and stylish.

Vivienne Westwood

British fashion designer (1941-2022)