Vivienne Westwood Worlds End Pirate Squiggle Print Smock Tunic, Born in England Label, Orange and Red
Vivienne Westwood Worlds End Pirate Squiggle Print Smock Tunic, Born in England Label, Orange and Red
- Dispatch
- Prepared and sent from Tokyo within 7–14 days, often sooner, or as arranged
- Arrival
- United States · usually 4–7 days after dispatch, insured and tracked
- Import
Duties and customs · View the estimate
A guide for this piece: about $369, based on the 10% US charge on the declared value of goods made in Japan.
The final figure is set by US Customs and depends on where the piece was made and the kind of object it is. Many antiques over a century old carry no ordinary duty; most jewellery and leather goods add a single-digit rate.
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- Measured by hand, in centimetres · Find your size · Ask before you buy
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A Vivienne Westwood Worlds End smock in the famous orange and red squiggle print of the Pirate era, with a deep open neck, billowing sleeves and the Born in England pirate label.
The Piece
Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's Pirate collection of Autumn/Winter 1981 was their first catwalk show and a turning point in British fashion. Shown from the Worlds End shop on the King's Road, it swapped punk's bondage for romantic, swashbuckling volume, and the squiggle print, a jagged wavy line drawn across cotton, became its most famous motif, continuing into the Savage collection that followed. Original pieces are held by the V&A and the Met.
This smock carries the Worlds End label with the pirate hand and dagger, the words Born in England and a hand wash separately instruction, the early label style of the shop. It is believed to date from the early 1980s; Worlds End has reissued pirate pieces over the years, and without a dated label we describe it as attributed to that period. The cotton is printed with the squiggle in red on saffron orange. It is a pullover cut, long enough to wear as a tunic or short dress, with a deep V opening, a broad soft collar gathered at the shoulders, very full sleeves gathered into buttoned cuffs and side slits.
Measuring 67 cm across the chest and 98 cm long, it is generous and unisex.
Worn belted over leggings or loose over trousers, it carries the full romance of the Pirate moment.
Details
- Designer: Vivienne Westwood (Worlds End)
- Season: Attributed to the early 1980s, Pirate-era squiggle print
- Model / ref: Squiggle print smock
- Material: Cotton (composition label absent)
- Colour: Saffron orange with red squiggle print
- Made in: England
- Tagged size: No size label
- Measurements: Shoulder 55 cm · Chest (pit to pit) 67 cm · Sleeve 50 cm · Length 98 cm
- Included: Smock only
Condition
- Visible vintage wear consistent with its age.
- Stains, marks and a small tear on the front.
- Abrasion and marks on the back; a small hole at the shoulder.
- Marks to the sleeves and cuffs.
- Brand label frayed with a small hole; composition label absent.
Condition grade B on the Japanese scale; see Japanese condition ranks, explained.
Authenticity & Care
The labels, materials, stitching, hardware and construction are examined together and documented in Japan before dispatch; anything that cannot be confirmed is stated plainly in the description. Every piece carries the Japonista authenticity guarantee. Hand wash cold and separately, as the label asks, and dry flat away from sun.
Delivery from Japan
Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything before you buy, and see our published policy.
Every figure above is taken by hand, in centimetres, and Japanese labels often run a size smaller than Western ones. Compare with a piece you already own and allow a little margin, the quiet safeguard on a final sale. Our size conversion guide sets Japanese sizes beside US, UK, EU and Asian ones, and for anything it leaves open the curator team replies within one Tokyo business day.
Considered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Pieces over $1,000 may be reserved over several payments with Layaway Privilege™.
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