In fact, wonderland has been a rich territory for many generations of designers – and the fashion world, in turn, has shaped our understanding of Alice and her coterie of characters.

She had previously been spurred on by the pace of the action, but in a moment of sober reality sees things for what they really are. Westwood said: “When you read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, you’ll see the original drawings by Tenniel which help make the book so sensational.Her influence can be felt everywhere, from the trippy reaches of 1960s psychedelia to the kitsch whimsy that coalesced around Tim Burton’s 2010 film adaptation. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. It’s a power that those in fashion love to draw on, conjuring the familiar image of the childhood dressing up box and laying claim to the thrill and silliness of visual spectacle. A harlequin, according to the novel’s press release, “is characterised by his comedic, often trickster, mischievous qualities – and so the deconstructed print is the perfect fit for Carroll’s tale of Wonderland”.

It can yield interpretations ranging from the light and frothy to dark and unnerving, depending on whether the mood is one of twee tea-sets or trippy forays into the unknown. She hopes these additions will underpin the “timeless” elements of the book and “fix it in the present moment”. This special anniversary edition of Lewis Carroll's tale fits in with the twisted take on Britishness that Dame Vivienne Westwood is famous for in a magical Wonderland setting. A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party scene is created in collaboration with Vivienne Westwood’s creative team for the 150th anniversary edition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The second designer is Claudia Bradby, who has designed a pearl Alice necklace and bracelet set to mark this very important birthday.This “perfect fit” quality of the cover contrasts with the strangeness of the other major features of Westwood’s anniversary edition. From her catwalk shows inspired by the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to her world famous twisted take on Britishness, Dame Vivienne Westwood has always seen the world through the looking glass. A poor condition book can still make a good reading copy but is generally not collectible unless the item is very scarce.

And even though I have spoken before of how I don't take to the book, I can hereby declare this party was made all the better for being twice as long, all courtesy of the presence of Lewis Carroll. Tiny crockery, vintage props and sweet treats fill the table, capturing the magic and mysteries of Wonderland. For many of these creators and brands, Alice also speaks directly to the power of youthful imagination. Card, paper and pens are used to depict individual characters, each with their own unique prop and inspired by the books’ original illustrations.

The Harlequin is the most well-known character from the Italian Commedia dell’arte, a form of theatre characterised by masked “types”. End Capitalism”, in its full and angry boldness, shows Westwood seeing things for what they really are. This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Complete with giant tumbling playing cards, an array of cakes and biscuits, and three carefully hand-crafted headpieces.

More recently, photographer Tim Walker – whose entire back catalogue, with its interest in eccentric characters, dreamlike scenarios, and dramatic contrasts in scale, could be read as its own kind of wonderland – retold Carroll’s tale for Pirelli’s 2018 calendar. They allow for total immersion in make-believe and offer a vibrant canvas peopled by characters and scenes already familiar to the viewer.Summary: How do you make a classic book that's really quite dreadful both better and worse for its 150th birthday?