Personally, when I think of Vivienne Westwood, the first thing that comes to mind is that signature red and black punk check pattern. This has been picked up by a number of designers recently.
It’s a very effective way to introduce a punk attitude, but difficult to pull off in a contemporary way. The father-son duo at Casely-Hayford, who often refer to English subcultures for inspiration, were extremely bold with their use of the check for AW14, applying it to a lounge suit and trouser separates that were designed to make a statement.
At Junya Watanabe, meanwhile, the DIY element of punk style was brought to cropped trousers made up of patchwork fabrics and check patterns, with punk-inspired hairstyles to boot. The check also found its way onto socks, which is a subtle but effective touch and an easy way to incorporate a punk attitude into your everyday look without going overboard.
Elsewhere, Saint Laurent used the iconic red check to subvert a shawl lapel dinner jacket – it would take a confident and brave man to turn up to a formal event in that, but that’s what punk calls for, after all:
Further Lookbook Inspiration
