Vivienne Westwood Retrospective at Bowes Museum Showcases Superfan's Personal Collection

The Bowes Museum in County Durham is presenting 'Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary,' a retrospective exhibition running until September 6, 2026. The show features approximately 40 complete outfits alongside individual garments, footwear, accessories, and archival materials drawn primarily from the personal collection of Peter Smithson, a science teacher and dedicated Westwood collector for three decades. Smithson, who serves as associate curator, became captivated by the designer after viewing a 1988 television appearance where models showcased Westwood's Time Machine collection. Organized in partnership with the museum's Rachel Whitworth, the display occupies both the main gallery and the Fashion and Textiles space, where fabric rolls and sewing equipment recreate a studio atmosphere. The exhibition arranges designs from the mid-1980s to the 2000s in chronological order, interspersed with paintings, sculptures, and armor from the museum's holdings to evoke a salon-style presentation. Westwood, who passed away in 2022 at age 81, maintained a strong connection to visual arts, frequently citing 18th-century painting as an influence and praising institutions like London's Wallace Collection as educational resources. Her association with The Bowes Museum dates to 2006, when she contributed dresses to a lace exhibition. Notable items in the retrospective include a crown from the 1987 Harris Tweed collection—Smithson's first formal acquisition—and ensembles from the 1990 Portrait collection, which reflect Westwood's meticulous attention to artistic references, such as silk scarves designed to mimic fluid brushstrokes. The exhibition also features pieces from the 1989 Voyage to Cythera collection, inspired by an 18th-century painting, complete with distinctive fig leaf tights. Smithson emphasizes that each garment tells a story, blending historical, artistic, and cultural elements, and views the clothing as artworks with narrative depth.