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Vivienne Westwood: Designing is hard work

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Dame Vivienne Westwood gets through designing by telling herself she can "read her book" once she's finished.

The punk icon is one of the biggest names in the business – but that doesn't mean she always likes her job. Vivienne admits to occasionally getting bored, so allows herself motivational treats to keep her going.

"I used to hate fashion. Well, not hate it completely. There always comes a point when you think: well, that's incredible. When you're really pleased," she told the UK edition of Grazia magazine. "But it's very hard work. How do I keep going? I tell myself that when I've finished this pair of trousers, I can read my book."

Vivienne has been in the industry since the '70s and her collections have experienced varying degrees of success. While she understands it’s normal for designers to go in and out of fashion, she still struggled with some of the feedback she received.

"I was successful when I started out. That's how fashion works - the new thing is the news!" she said. "Then they want somebody else new. I was completely ignored by the fashion press for about... easily ten years. I thought it was terrible. In France, they would have looked after you better. In England, they're so bourgeois."

Vivienne has become synonymous with rock and roll and is happy to admit she has pushed boundaries. However, she has never been very interested in drugs.

"I once tried heroin. I felt so ill that I never had it again," she admitted. "I don't like drugs. I don't like thinking I'm suddenly going somewhere I didn't want to go. A couple of times I smoked some pot and didn't get anywhere with it. I just like alcohol."

Georgia May Jagger is the face of Vivienne's new fine jewellery line. The pair have been friends for some time, although their relationship hasn't always been as strong.

Georgia can vividly remember being furious with the designer when they were first introduced.

"I was about seven and I was having a bit of a diva stage," she laughed. "Vivienne made these dresses for Leah Wood's 21st birthday, for my sister [actress-and-model Lizzy] and my mum [Jerry Hall]. I helped them all get ready and was really upset that I couldn't go... The next time I saw Vivienne, I said, 'I don't think you're a real designer, because if you were a real designer, you'd have made all the ladies in the family dresses.'" - © COVER MEDIA


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