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Written by vintagegent.com
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ZANDRA RHODES
Zandra Rhodes reveals no specific birth date, but was born in the 1940s, and studied at the Royal College of Art and the Medway College of Art in Textile Design. Her mother was a fitter at a Paris fashion house and also was a teacher at Medway. She opened her own shop in 1969 as a response of her designs being labelled too flamboyant for conservative London manufacturers. She quickly was on the cutting edge of the London fashion revival. Ms. Rhodes was as striking as her designs...her trademarks were green hair and theatrical makeup.
She credited her influence as organic shapes and materials, and nature, and her clothing emulates a certain fluid grace, including chiffon, handpainting, organza, and the revival of the crinoline. Later on, trademark details included jewelled safety pins and reversed exposed seams. The late 1990s saw an Indian influence due to her travels to India.
She introduced a second label, Zandra Rhodes II as a daywear line, which included knits and outerwear, in 1972.
Among her acheivements have been a variety of exhibitions, including an unexpected exhibit for the San Diego children's museum, for which she also created a paper doll book. Her designs were worn by Freddie Mercury and Queen during the 1970s. Her most famed achievements include designing clothing for Diana, the Princess of Wales, and being made a Commander of the British Empire in 1997 by Queen Elizabeth I. Her clothing enjoys a cult following in the United States today.
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from a 1972 blouse
Courtesy of claireshaeffer
from a late 1970s dress
Courtesy of firehawk325
from a 1980s dress
Courtesy of claireshaeffer
from a 1980s garment
Courtesy of vintagetrend
from a late 1980s jacket
Courtesy of cooltrikerchick
from an early 1990s suit
Courtesy of ellenm
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