Since I design clothes, I have a hearty interest in others who do the same. And not to put too fine a point on it, those who are more sucessful at it than I am. By sucessful, I mean financially. I don't necessarily think they are all actually better at it. So periodically, I have to organize and update my list of favorites. We'll post them in categories, one at a time since, like love, my admiration is a many splendored thing.

All Around Best Still Working Today- VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

She is outrageous. Outrageously so. Many points for that. For instance, twice when receiving royal honors, she was famously sans knickers. At an age when many women are contemplating "Depends", she was out schmoozing the fuddy duddy royals a la commando. (Side note to our young American pop tarts: when exposing yourself, maintain your dignity. You don't have to actually show us your coochiesnorcher. Just knowing it's on the loose is titilating enough.)

Constantly reinventing herself, though this not uncomman at all. And contradictory. A woman of many moods. Some conceivably fueled by drugs more exotic than the average person will ever come across. Or that could be one explanation. But these personality quirks, though useful in building an image, and tres amusing to ponder are just not enough to be the best of the best. But Westwood delivers the goods. For without doubt, Westwood is a designer's designer.

Since her clothes from a distance or in a photograph look like some deranged fantasy from an acid fueled Fellini masterpiece, it would be easy to write her off as a mere attention seeker or victim of her own press. But that would be wrong. Because up close, it becomes obvious that she has a mastery of cut that the rest of us can only dream of. Especially on the tailored pieces. She is English after all, and tailoring is in the Anglo soul. And speaking of the tailoring, it is pristine perfection in all its decadent nutsiness. Practically Savile Row quality. Again the contradictions. Old fashioned workmanship on fantasmagorias.

The historical research is amazing. Of course by the time we see the result on the runway, historical accuracy has been fractured, deconstructed, reconstructed, rinsed and repeated a number of times. But you can still tell that it is there.

And more times than the other fashion greats want to admit, they have found sucess based on ideas she presented first.

Contrary to popular opinion, she is not totally uncommercial. While watching her collection, break apart the looks. Focus on individual pieces. Some are exquisite. Totally wearable for the fashionista of average daring. A woman of any age won't go unnoticed wearing these particular pieces. But she won't get carted away to the bin either as may happen if she purchased a complete look straight from the runway.