Zandra Rhodes

Zandra Rhodes grew up in the fashion community of the 1940’s. In the late 60’s, when she debuted her textiles, they were deemed unsuitable for designs created by that community, so she began to make her own clothes especially for those fabrics. During the 70’s she rose to fame and by the end of the decade, had been named Designer of the year, and featured in a fashion retrospective at the Victoria and Albert museum. Her bold, organic designs are quintessentially of the 1970’s, and although they have come back into vogue in the new millennia, they were original to the era and personality that created them.

Zandra’s trademark shocking pink hair suits her persona, which bursts forth in her creations, the designs she creates are as outrageous as the prints she uses in them. Caftans, coats whose pleats remind you of origami, dresses slashed and completely asymmetrical all sprang from her imagination. Details such as exposed seams, slashes, holes, and safety pins were all her innovation, and she blended past fashion into her own, reviving the crinoline in the early 1970’s. Most of her designs are surprisingly feminine for the era, but given Zandra’s own zaftig figure and penchant for brightly colored hair and bold makeup, not at all surprising.

Her designs weren’t all created for women, she designed for Freddie Mercury of Queen, who wanted something flamboyant. Her white satin creation, with pleats to allow him the freedom of movement his performing style demanded, would become infamous. Later in the decade, her pink and black jersey collection, accented with slashes and safety pins, would earn her the nickname “Princess of Punk.” During the 70’s, as British rock swept the world stage, her designs would travel with them into international fame.

Her designs follow her personality. Theatrical, dramatic, but graceful and feminine, her clothing was worn by Jackie O and Elizabeth Taylor. Many of her textiles were influenced by African or Native American themes, and her bright colours and chunky jewellery follow that influence as well. In the 1970’s she was one of the most influential designers, creating a look that following generations would immediately recognize as stemming from that era.