With the death of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood on Thursday, the Los Angeles Times’ entertainment and arts section immediately thought of her seismic impact on pop culture — through both the red-carpet looks that dressed some of Hollywood’s top stars and through the lasting imprint of her distinctive aesthetic. Among the most recent and vivid examples are the Oscar-winning costumes for Disney’s live-action origin story “Cruella” (2021), a glorious riff on Westwood’s vintage punk, with a touch of Alexander McQueen and some Mouse House whimsy to boot.
We caught up with the film’s costume designer Jenny Beavan, who is also behind the looks in this year’s “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” and many other films, to discuss Westwood’s influence, Beavan’s memory of meeting the late fashion icon and why she was “scared” to go into Westwood’s King’s Road outposts. The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: We we’re so taken with your work in ‘Cruella’ and it seemed so inspired by Vivienne Westwood that as we’ve been thinking about people to talk to on her passing, you came right to mind. What comes to mind for you when someone mentions Vivienne Westwood?
