Zandra Rhodes

August 2019

I think I may have disappointed Dame Zandra Rhodes. When we turned up to her ‘Salon’ / apartment above the London fashion museum that she founded. She asked what colour clothes would I like her to wear. I responded, as I normally do, that whatever she feels comfortable in is great, but also added that as the room was painted in a full rainbow of colours (see third picture) that I could work with whatever she chose, as i would obviously be able to find a blend somewhere in the room.

Of course I also shot a “safety” plain background shoot, for the Observer New Review, just in case.

This was the one that was used and the readers never got to see the symphony of colour, and artefacts, and Z’s, that she lives with. They did get to see here cheeky smile though.

She was playful and fun and appreciated that my assistant Bev had worn a pair of patterned trousers in her honour. And the room was unforgetable too!