Conceptual Chic

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

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