Vivienne Westwood, punk queen turned fashion dame, dies at 81

In this file photo taken on June 12, 2017 British designer Vivienne Westwood reacts as she talks discusses her catwalk show at before displaying her latest creations at London Fashion Week Men's June 2017 in London. Westwood died in London on December 29, 2022 at the age of 81, her family said. – Photo: AFP

Doyenne of British design Vivienne Westwood, who melded music and fashion together to create punk and brought rebellious politics to the catwalk, died on Thursday aged 81, her family said.

Westwood made provocation itself into an art form -- from the leather bondage gear she popularised in the 1970s to the time she went without underwear to Buckingham Palace to receive her damehood from the queen.