Description

‘From the winged cape she designed for Freddie Mercury to her white Biba boots, every piece tells a memorable tale.’ The Lady, Book of the Year

‘A vivid and compelling picture of the broader fashion landscape between 1960 and the present day. Anecdotes? The book is full of them.’ The Times

‘Dazzling from start to finish.’ Joanna Lumley

In this insightful memoir, Zandra shares her life story for the first time. Told through a variety of mementos collected over the years, it is a vibrant account filled with rockstars and royalty, of life-changing friendships and poignant reflections on her personal triumphs and tragedies, as well as the fears, sacrifices and pressures that come with being an era-defining designer.

Full of poignant reflections and life lessons on achieving success while defying convention, Zandra takes the reader right alongside her as she recounts being inspired by her avant-garde mother to her time at the Royal College, from a road trip to Rome with Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell, to opening her first London store thanks to a kind loan from Vanessa Redgrave with Joe Cocker singing With a Little Help From My Friends, from hanging out with Andy Warhol and Halston in New York’s Studio 54 to lifelong friendships with legends such as Karl Lagerfeld and Diana Vreeland; from designing for everyone from Freddie Mercury to Diana Ross, Princess Diana to Barbra Streisand to founding the Fashion and Textile Museum.

Capturing the rich and unexpected life of a British icon, this memoir explores what it is to defy the norm.

‘Zandra Rhodes has changed the course of fashion history.’ Suzy Menkes, fashion journalist

Publisher Review

Dazzling from start to finish, this shows how Zandra Rhodes became a fabulous style icon and creative genius. Adorable and sometimes pretty astonishing: I couldn’t have loved it more. * Joanna Lumley * Fun stories and memories from the fabulous Zandra! Insightful and funny reminiscences from a self-confessed hoarder. * Twiggy * ‘The most extraordinary designer of her generation. This is a book that everyone will be absolutely taken by.’ * Manolo Blahnik * Zandra Rhodes is a living legend and her inspirational work in fashion, deeply woven into the cultural and musical fabric of the last 50 years, is still as potent and fresh as ever. This book detailing her fascinating life and development as an artist cannot fail to ignite interest all around the world. * Brian May *