Home / Arts and Entertainment / Teacher's Westwood Wardrobe: A Fashion Exhibition
Teacher's Westwood Wardrobe: A Fashion Exhibition
27 Mar
Summary
- Peter Smithson's extensive Vivienne Westwood collection is featured in a major exhibition.
- The exhibition showcases over 40 ensembles from his private collection amassed over 30 years.
- Smithson, a chemistry teacher, was inspired by Westwood's designs from a young age.
A major fashion exhibition at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham, is drawing almost entirely from the private collection of Peter Smithson, a dedicated Vivienne Westwood enthusiast. The display features more than 40 ensembles, accumulated by Smithson over 30 years of passionate collecting.
Smithson, a chemistry teacher from Lancashire, first encountered Westwood's groundbreaking designs as a 10-year-old, captivated by their unique aesthetic. His admiration solidified in his teenage years after a memorable encounter with a Westwood-clad individual in Manchester, confirming his deep connection to the designer's work.
The exhibition also includes accessories, shoes, and jewelry from Smithson's collection, thoughtfully presented alongside treasures from the Bowes Museum's holdings. This collaboration aims to tell compelling stories through fashion and inspire the next generation of designers.
Vivienne Westwood, celebrated as one of Britain's most daring designers, maintained her northern roots throughout her career, her fearless creativity continuing to resonate. Her approach to design was revolutionary, characterized by a fearless experimentation with technique, proportion, and historical references, blending past, present, and future aesthetics.
