Vivienne Westwood Scaring Influence on NANA
As Nana, every girl's favourite stylish manga/anime, marks its 20th Anniversary, let’s look back at how iconic designer Vivienne Westwood significantly influenced the fashionable fiction we cherish.
Nana Osaki (left), wearing a leopard print cowboy hat, paired with a Vivienne Westwood fitted ruffle black corset and a chunky pearl Saturn planet orb silver necklace. Nana Hachi Komatsu (right) wears a dusty pink blouse-like frilly dress, paired with a Vivienne Westwood ribbon ring. Available via GATA MAGAZINE © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended
To mark the 20th anniversary of an extraordinary slice-of-life story about two young women with the same name and age, but completely different personalities and fashion, we celebrate the lasting impact of Nana, which explores topics of friendship, dreams, heartbreak, and the reality of entering young womanhood in Tokyo. The 2000s shoujo manga was truly ahead of its time, especially when it comes to iconic fashion and street style, as well as youth culture that explores many subcultures throughout the plotline. Whilst there were nods to many subcultures, Vivienne Westwood was the primary heavy influence that was the source of inspiration for the characters, expressing their inner rebelliousness.
Nana Osaki (left) in official art wearing Vivienne Westwood’s A/W 1987 Harris Tweed collection Heart blazer with a yellow checked skirt paired with Westwood’s rocking horse ballerina-like shoes and red ripped thigh-high socks. Vivienne Westwood wearing her original piece of the heart blazer, skirt and rocking horse shoes. Available via GATA MAGAZINE © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended
Nana is never a stranger to (more of an addiction) for the characters wearing head-to-toe Vivienne Westwood pieces throughout the series. The rebellious Vivienne Westwood British punk 70s era line of clothing was a staple armour to the heroine main character Nana Osaki and her punk band members, BLAST, as they often wore plaid bondage trousers, leather jackets, rocking horse platforms, ripped jeans and Westwood’s signature armour ring. One of the most iconic and memorable pieces in Westwood’s collection, which debuted in Nana, is the red, fitted, black collar blazer that creates a heart-shaped illusion when buttoned up from Westwood’s A/W 1987 Harris Tweed collection. This blazer provides a unique approach that brings a bold yet romantic statement of punk fashion, which brings the character Nana Osaki to life, reflecting her rebellious and flirtatious personality. Westwood’s influence extends beyond Nana's clothing; jewellery has become one of the most iconic fashion statements throughout the story, encouraging fans to incorporate Saturn orb planet pieces into modern-day outfits.
Nana manga illustrates Hachi wearing a floral embroidered cardigan with a ruffle cami, paired with a Vivienne Westwood Saturn planet pearl orb necklace, paired with Saturn earrings. Available via Tumblr © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended
Whilst the story expresses Vivienne Westwood’s influence of punk rebelliousness of dress and personality in the characters, the designer’s jewellery craftsmanship provides the perfect pieces of any fashion subculture follower can wear. The other heroine character, Hachi, differs in her fashion compared to Nana Osaki, as she dresses more girlish tone with a 70/80s Harajuku aesthetic. Like Nana Osaki, Vivienne Westwood jewellery is a must-have piece in Hachi’s wardrobe, as the manga includes various appearances of her wearing a Vivienne Westwood Saturn pearl orb necklace and earrings that resemble a regal, dainty concept, which goes to show Westwood jewellery can be implemented in any outfit, even if it’s not punk. The mangaka’s love for Vivienne Westwood has been visible throughout Nana, with an everlasting impact on the fashion culture phenomenon that has been taken from Japan to worldwide. As it stands, Vivienne Westwood being an influential source for Nana’s fashion is destined for many fans to dress in Vivienne Westwood, making them feel confident like a Nana character.
Vivienne Westwood photographed on a London street wearing a plaid jacket, captured by Tim Jenkins for Penske Media/REX/Shutterstock. Image featured in “Vivienne Westwood Documentary Set For 2018 Release,” Vogue UK, 15 December 2017. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended
