With over thirty years in the fashion industry, Kim West is an iconic latex designer. In 1984, Kim discovered her passion for latex fashion, after creating a dress which created quite a controversy at the time. While she doesn’t have the full dress anymore, she does have a strap to remind her of how far she’s come from her early days.
Her latex dress was used as a display at a store called The Great Gear Market in King’s Road, and the rest was history. A woman from Switzerland placed an order for ten dresses, and then Kim West Clothing had made its official debut. The name Kim West derives from an album cover from David Bowie. Initially, she started modeling her own clothing for the first Kim West catalog. Soon after, her designs were scooped up by Tony James of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Adam Ant and Sam Fox.
Kim’s dresses were also featured in Penthouse, The Guardian and Telegraph magazine. By February 1987, Kim West opened her shop located in Kensington Market. Margi Clark, Helena Bonham-Carter, Kylie Minogue, Janet Street-Porter and Isabella Rossellini have all posed wearing Kim West latex designs. She has also created printed latex designs and handmade shoes. Later on, the legendary singer Madonna picked up some of her designs.
British designer Vivienne Westwood reached out to Kim West to create latex stockings for one of her collections. The designer needed to take some time off for family reasons, but soon got back into the game. In 2009, the brand was relaunched as Kim West Latex. Her designs were featured in the Spring/Summer 2011 Collection for Jimmy Choo and the Vogue Olympic issue.
In 2011, a budding designer named Sasha Louise joined the team, creating her own latex net designs. Her unique latex net creations have been sported by singers like Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus. In 2013, Kim West opened a new store for a brief period, but now the designer has an online webstore. Popular models, singers, and celebrities like Cara Delevigne, Perrie Edwards of Little Mix, and Amber Rose have all flaunted Kim West designs.
Get inspired by Kim West’s classic latex creations, like her latex leggings and sleek full body catsuit designs. For a mesmerizing look, opt for a streamlined bodysuit with sheer paneling. Or, take on a new style by wearing a latex bodysuit with a bold red hue. Whether you prefer latex crop tops, bodysuits, or catsuits, there’s plenty of latex fashion inspiration to be found from Kim West.
Written by Jade Nicolette
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The range you mention at the end, from full catsuits to sheer panel bodysuits, really highlights how versatile latex can be beyond the usual stereotypes.
The relaunch in 2009 and then landing in Jimmy Choo’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection is impressive, especially after taking time off for family reasons.
I didn’t realize her first latex dress actually caused controversy and still led to that Swiss order of ten pieces, which basically launched the brand. That origin story feels very punk and very 80s London.
The detail about the strap being all that remains of her first dress really stuck with me, it’s such a small artifact for something that sparked a whole career.
I liked the mention of Vivienne Westwood commissioning latex stockings from her, because that crossover with another iconic British designer says a lot about Kim West’s influence.
That early shop in Kensington Market and features in places like The Guardian and Penthouse show how she balanced underground appeal with mainstream attention.
Interesting how quickly musicians like Adam Ant and Sigue Sigue Sputnik picked up her designs; it really shows how tied latex fashion was to that edgy music scene at the time.
Sasha Louise’s latex net designs being worn by Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus feels like a natural evolution of the brand’s bold aesthetic into a newer pop generation.