Vivienne Westwood Will Pop Up in a Hayes Valley Art Gallery

Photo: Vivienne Westwood

Let's make one thing clear from the start: Vivienne Westwood (the brand) is coming to town. Vivienne Westwood (the dame) is not. But getting an Anglomania (and more!) pop-up to call our very own is still exciting, right? After all, this is the designer who made punk chic, designed Carrie Bradshaw's glorious wedding gown, and dressed Helena Bonham Carter for practically every moment in life when she wasn't playing Bellatrix Lestrange.

Why San Francisco? Why now? Giuseppe Aragoni, the brand's commercial director, tells Haute Living that Vivienne Westwood is considering a Bay Area expansion and the pop-up is a way of testing the market. To that end, the company is bringing more than 2,500 pieces from six years of collections to the Jules Maeght Gallery (149 Gough Street) in Hayes Valley next week. The pop up overlaps with the gallery's Tracey Snelling/Asphalt Jungle installation, so expect visual drama at every turn.

The temporary shop will be open from May 15-20. If you're a Westwood fan and want to see a more permanent presence from her in the city, make an effort to stop in and buy all the things.