Show report: Vivienne Westwood A/W'12

There are certain givens at a Vivienne Westwood show – a good dose of historical referencing, the requisite drama and, of course, a quota of Punk rebellion

There are certain givens at a Vivienne Westwood show – a good dose of historical referencing, the requisite drama and, of course, a quota of Punk rebellion.

For autumn/winter 12 Dame Viv gave us a typically eclectic line-up with over the top looks which heavily referenced some of the designer’s favourite eras – there were corseted hooded silk dresses, Elizabethan corsets which came in rich claret and blue dripping in gilt braiding or were worn off the shoulder with intricate embroideries or paired Union Jack leggings.

There was plenty of classic Westwood here too from curvy little skirt suits with nipped in waists to shredded knits. But it wasn’t all back-ward looking - English tweeds were cut into street-inspired dresses with zipped fronts and huge collars.

Tweed jackets were paired with slashed plaid shorts or crazy multi-coloured tutus and sky high silk platforms. Westwood gave a nod to this season’s obsession with oversized silhouettes – with plaid or tweed coats or dramatically power-shouldered jackets and vast silk gown-style coats.

Mostly though it all felt thoroughly wacky with bikes, bonkers platforms and some of the most outlandish looks likely to be seen on Paris catwalks this weeks. The bride closed the show wearing a brocade flatcap pale pink and grey tulle mini crini dress and dizzying plaid platforms.

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