Introduction to Zandra Rhodes
Dame Zandra Rhodes has been famous for her authentic attitude to fashion since the 1970s. She has dressed celebrities from Freddie Mercury to Princess Diana, created psychedelic flowers over chiffon dresses, and colored her hair light pink long before Tumblr made it mainstream. Now, at the age of 84, she has made her kaleidoscopic eye an unexpected canvas: bathing clothing.
A New Venture
However, this does not necessarily mean that she will immerse herself in her designs. "I don’t know that I would actually go into the sea with him," she laughs, discussing her new cooperation with the Oceanus label of Swimwear label. "I think I would just stand by the pool myself and look exotic." The collection – a turmoil of mussel motifs, swirling flowers, and pearl decorations – is just as much about theater as browning.
The Design Process
Rhodes is known for her unshakable devotion to maximalism and worked closely with the Oceanus team to translate her characteristic archive prints to heavy, structured Lycra. "They are really glamorous," she says, "and what was so beautiful was that we only had the layouts of the costumes, and we were free to paint everything – what we wanted – like different mussels – [to see] what they would look like." Despite the shift in the medium, her process has not changed much over the decades. "We are still sketching by hand before we put it on the computer," she says, "I see myself in the mirror and think I would wear it? How would I wear it?"
Versatility and Inspiration
And of course, her bathing clothing is not limited to an age group – it is only as you wear it. “I would wear it with pants […] But to be honest, you could do it as evening outfits. They are really beautiful." It is an approach that is both playfully and quietly radical: turning beach clothes into party clothing and blurring the boundaries between the resort and red carpet. The glittering mussels and the psychedelic color palette in combination with torn cuts are asked who were the inspiration to wear these looks. "Princess Diana would have looked very good in the yacht in the yacht, wasn’t it?" Rhodes says without missing a blow.
A Legacy of Fashion
Rhodes dressed the late Princess of Wales in her early royal years. "I made a beautiful pink chiffon-off-shoulder dress with small pearls around the outside and a ruffle," she recalls. The Rhodes signature – big color, greater personality – has remained remarkably consistent, and is also protected as a fashion itself around them. It admits that it is amazed by the recent "calm luxury". "I didn’t follow this trend," she laughs. Although it is a non-conformist when it comes to trends, "I can’t imagine when everyone turns into the color that they see me in black and white," says Rhodes: "I don’t think that will happen – anyway."
A Busy Schedule
Despite their age, their schedule remains full. She begins her morning at 8 a.m. in her studio, which sits directly under the apartment in which she lives, and sits on the London fashion and textile museum, which she also founded. "I am lucky," she says, "I will come down here at eight in the morning and hope that I can think of new ideas." "I have a wonderful team of young people who come in and we try to feed the world at least a little Zandra Rhodes." She is currently planning two major exhibitions: one in the Holburne Museum in Bath with over 50 historical clothes and another at De Montfort University, in which the complete records of the cooperation of your company are organized.
No Signs of Slowing Down
Exhibitions and cooperations continue to stream to Rhodes – and while many of her colleagues are retired, she does not intend to slow down. "I hope different projects will appear and we will find them exciting and stimulating," she says. "Maybe you could call me the sample queen." To be honest, there seems to be anyone in a British way that deserves this nickname.
