Quotes from Vivienne Westwood

If you see everything from the point of view of women being victims in some way, you don't see the wood for the trees. It is better to be a person than a woman.

It is not possible for a man to be elegant without a touch of femininity.

Personally I'm not a feminist, as I can't stand puritans.

The reason why I am proud of my part in the punk movement is that I think it really did implant a message that was already there. The hippies told it to me, but punk made it something cool for people to stand up for, which is that we do not believe government, that we are against government.

I have too much product, and I'm trying to rein it in and sell more of my main collection. I wish you didn't have to design so often; it would be good if you could keep on selling the same things for a few years and not have to do new things all the time.

Women fight for democracy and engage in the world. But they shouldn't try and be copying men and be masculine; they should anchor on the home and build on those fundamentals.

I think that feminists have definitely underestimated the role that women have had historically. I think I would be insecure if I were to be a man; there's so much pressure on you.

Shoes must have very high heels and platforms to put women's beauty on a pedestal.

There is no hierarchy of values any more. Real progress is due mainly to human genius, and that's rare, and usually stems from a real elite, from a hierarchy.

The age in which we live, this non-stop distraction, is making it more impossible for the young generation to ever have the curiosity or discipline... because you need to be alone to find out anything.

I don't notice anybody unless they look great, and every now and again they do, and they are usually 70.

The only possible effect one can have on the world is through unpopular ideas.

I was so upset with what was going on in the world. I just couldn't stand the idea of being people tortured and that we even had such a thing as war. I hated the older generation, who had not done anything about it. Punk was a call-to-arms for me.

Fashion has become so whatever. I don't think there are any stones left to unturn.

Real art has been... what's the word? Kidnapped? No, that's not it. But, OK, kidnapped by business.

We are the most amazing creatures that this world has ever produced, but we seem to also have this herd mentality; we seem to be the most stupid, also.

I urge everyone to be trendsetters for Azza Suleiman. Let's make it one fashion which everyone will want to follow.

Prince Charles is definitely my hero; he uses his position to do only good in this world.

The sexiest people are thinkers. Nobody's interested in somebody who's just vain with a hole in their head, talking about the latest thing - there is no latest thing. It's all rubbish.

I think some people would love to be able to make the clothes I make - and of course, I do influence them, but they keep simplifying, and minimalism doesn't quite work

I love designing at the moment, I'm so happy with my work.

I didn't know how a working-class girl like me could possibly make a living in the art world

Art should never be sociological; it has got to be timeless. It's got to be your vision and how you can represent the world you see.

The arts have only ever interested a small minority of people, which acted as a kind of nursery to support artists.