trousers were adorned and
skirts got shorter. PostFeminism was born and
women were feeling more
empowered. With an influx
of protests for women’s
rights and gay pride, the
UK was changing for the
good and the punks made
sure everyone knew it was
changing by wearing the
most radical attire possible.
The aim was to shock.
Vivienne Westwood was a
pioneer in punk fashion for
women in the 70s and 80s,
first opening her bondagestyle shop “Sex” with
Malcolm McLaren and
eventually turning it into a
high-fashion store selling
coveted pieces by females
across the globe, dubbed
“World’s End”.
But Vivienne Westwood
is not the only woman we
have to thank for the rapid
movement of the liberation
of women this past century.
The women owed thanks are
our mothers, aunts, greataunts and grandmothers
who stood at the forefront
of freeing women from
the chains of gender
discrimination. The women
who fought for their ability
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to be proud in who they are
and to aspire to be whoever
they wanted to be, regardless
of their sex. These women are
the protagonists of the century.
†
Pictured Above: My Mother at 20 with my
sister.
Opposite: An interpretive compilation of
self portraits inspired by a 20s/50s/80s
and modern day woman.
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