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Conceptual Chic

Evening Dress
1977 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Rhodes, Zandra (designer)
Place of origin
London (made)

This is an evening dress of black rayon jersey with beaded safety pins, ball-link chains and diamante decoration. It was designed by Zandra Rhodes in 1977 and formed part of her 'Conceptual Chic' collection.

Object details

Categories
Fashion
Womenswear
Evening Wear
Object type
Evening dress
TitleConceptual Chic (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Rayon jersey, beaded safety pins, ball link chains, diamantes
Brief description
Evening dress of rayon jersey, 'Conceptual Chic', designed by Zandra Rhodes, London, 1977
Physical description
Long, punk-inspired, sleeveless evening dress of matte black rayon jersey. It is deliberately and decoratively 'ripped' on the bodice and lower skirt. The raw edges of the slashes are emphasised with machine zigzag stitching in blue cotton. It is decorated with beaded safety pins, ball link chains (of the type used to secure domestic plugs) and randomly placed diamates.
Dimensions
  • Neck to hem length: 141cm
British size 10
Gallery label
(1983-84)
EVENING DRESS
rayon jersey, ball link chains, beaded safety pins and diamantés
English, London, Zandra Rhodes, 1977

Inspired by punk clothes, this clinging sheath came from a collection calle "conceptual chic". It is a radical departure from the flowing silks with painterly patterms which are usually associated with Zandra Rhodes. The heavy elements of punk dress - black bondage trousers, leather jacket with chains and safety pins, etc. are used as starting points for a less oppressive variation for a different market.

To be seen at its full advantage the dress demands that its wearer has a slender form and plenty of confidence

Given by Miss Zandra Rhodes
T.66-1978
Credit line
Given by Zandra Rhodes
Summary
This is an evening dress of black rayon jersey with beaded safety pins, ball-link chains and diamante decoration. It was designed by Zandra Rhodes in 1977 and formed part of her 'Conceptual Chic' collection.
Bibliographic reference
Mendes, Valerie. Black In Fashion. London: V&A Publications, 1999.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.66-1978

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15649/conceptual-chic-evening-dress-rhodes-zandra/
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