Before her designs ever graced the catwalks at London Fashion Week, Vivienne Westwood was first and foremost a punk. In 1971, Westwood and her husband Malcolm McLaren opened their landmark boutique at 430 King’s Road in London’s Chelsea. There is no punk style without Westwood and McLaren–– at the boutique, which was known variously through the years as Paradise Garage, Let it Rock, Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die, SEX, Seditionaries, and World’s End, the duo codified the foundations of punk style and music. From 1976 to 1980, the boutique traded under the name “Seditionaries: Clothes for Heroes,” known for its offerings with controversial screen-printed designs, including snippets of pornographic text and sexualized graphics of Disney characters. These garments were often worn by members of the Sex Pistols, whom McLaren organized and managed–– Sid Vicious was even a sometime shop clerk. The “Seditionaries” era was a landmark moment in the history of subculture, foundational to Vivienne Westwood’s legacy as the architect of punk style. 

Yellow cotton eyelet babydoll dress, printed with "Anarchist Scum" and suggestive text. Zip closure at back. Late 1970s.

Label: Malcolm McLaren / Vivienne Westwood / Seditionaries / Personal Collection
Size: Not Listed
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Approximate Measurements: 
Chest: 34"
Shoulders: 32"
Length from Center Back Neckline: 27"