1982 Zandra Rhodes Turquoise Printed Dress Suit with Ribbon Work

Zandra Rhodes is a British institution. Rising to fame as a fashion and textile designer in the 1970s, her audacious, highly feminine designs put her at the forefront of the London fashion scene. Zandra has confirmed this is from her Spring / Summer 1982 "Fairy" collection and we found this version and a shorter design in a different colourway referenced in the Zandra Rhodes digital archive. 

A dress and tunic ensemble, the top layer, or tunic, is tailored from a vibrant teal sheer silk chiffon printed with broken vertical stripes in burnt orange, alternating between thin and thick lines. It is tailored to a peasant style with a gathered, drawstring neckline and long bell-sleeves. The neckline is trimmed with raspberry ribbon, alongside bright orange ribbon which has been pleated and pinned to a ruffle style. The bust is trimmed with a raspberry bead-trimmed ruffle that circles around to the back. The sleeves are very long with ruffled, flared cuffs and trimmed at the very end with raspberry spherical beads. The top has a gathered waistband that is trimmed in pleated orange ribbon, and gives way to a ruffle hem adorned with large bauble-like, raspberry pink beads that jangle as the wearer moves.

The second piece is a slip dress cut from vibrant turquoise-green silk jersey. It has thin spaghetti straps to hold it up, cut from silk, which also trims the neckline. The bottom of the slip dress has a wide flounce, trimmed with the striped turquoise chiffon, which shows as a floaty, flippy skirt underneath the tunic top. The original label reads “Zandra Rhodes London” and is accompanied by care labels attributed to “Zandra Rhodes Studio” which are printed with sketches by Zandra Rhodes and care instructions in her hand-writing.

The suit is in very good to excellent excellent vintage condition and presents beautifully. Entirely hand-made, the colours are fresh and we didn't spot any of the pearl beads missing. Our couture trained seamstress has expertly repaired a very small tear near to the ruffle hem on the yoke at the back of the dress - you'd have to have 'eagle eyes' to notice it. There are a few very faint marks on the jersey which is hidden under the tunic top. Labelled a UK size 10, US size 8 but its generous and will go up a size. Our model's sizes are: Bust: 37” (94cm), Waist: 31” (80cm), Hips: 45” (114cm) and Height: 5' 10.5" (180cm). She's a size UK 12, US 8 and this fit her well.

MEASUREMENTS TUNIC

BUST - 40 in. (102 cm)

WAIST STRETCHED - 40 in. (102 cm)

WAIST UNSTRETCHED - 30 in. (76 cm)

HIP - 50 in. (127 cm) LENGTH - 35 in. (89 cm)

MEASUREMENTS SLIP

BUST - 34 in. (86 cm)

WAIST - 32 in. (81 cm)

HIP - 40 in. (102 cm)

LENGTH - 45 in. (114 cm)