Dame Zandra Rhodes and the Westgate Hotel presented the Archive Collection last week. The amazing collection came straight from London. Of course, Rhodes is an international designer who has dressed celebrities, royalty, and the fashion elite for over 50 years. She’s known for her textiles that are designed, screen-printed and made in London. And both she and her fashions can’t be missed; indeed, when you look at her prints you know they are indisputably from Zandra Rhodes. Her signature style is bold, colorful and very feminine. This runway show was a rare treat for the attendees to view many of Rhodes’ iconic creations over the past five decades. The afternoon began in the beautiful Westgate Hotel with a champagne social. Everyone was able to shop Rhodes’ merchandise while they mixed and mingled; following guests moved into the Versailles room for the luncheon and fashion show. International food consultant, cookbook author and La Jolla resident Jeanne Jones created ‘Le Menu.’ Indeed, each year Rhodes has an array of local TV, magazine celebrities and guest models who show-off her wonderful designs on numerous runways. This time around, accessories by Zandra Rhodes and Andrew Logan complimented each of the creations. The guests happily dined while watching the Archive Collection. Among the hits of catwalk was the 1981 Cleveland dress; this creation was made for Pat Cleveland in Studio 54. The knockout design is made from liquid-gold metallic fibers. While the stylish 1969 Knitted Circle dress is a one-shoulder silk chiffon that actress Natalie Wood originally wore in American Vogue. Also notable was the 1978 Frida dress made with exquisite pink and black chiffon and embellished with gorgeous pink and black beads. But, one of the most iconic dresses was the 1986 Princess Diana dress. This cherry blossom-pink silk dress is worn off the shoulders and finished with crystals cascading off the edges. The show ended with a 1977 summer dress inspired by singer Donna Summer. This bridal dress was a beautiful kimono-style that was finished with a satin bow. Many of the designs in the Archive Collection have been reproduced and can be purchased on MatchesFashion.com. Some of the new reproductions were shown on the catwalk. This awe-inspiring day concluded with a chance to go backstage and try the garments on; certainly a crowd-pleasing event! Proceeds go to The American Friends of The Zandra Rhodes Museum (AFZRM). The Zandra Rhodes Museum was founded in 2003 and highlights British and international fashion and textile design. Recently Rhodes was approached by the creative director of Valentino to collaborate on a collection of prints for the Maison Valentino’s S/S ’17 collection. In addition, Rhodes has designed for three operas and she currently is designing the fourth one- Puccini’s Turandot. Look for this one, which is tentatively scheduled for the Fall 2017 Season. If you missed the wonderful opportunity to see this fabulous collection, you can make an appointment with the Zandra Rhodes studio by calling (858) 792- 1892. Upcoming Events
n Friday, Nov. 11 – The Bing Crosby Season at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
There will be a Stars & Stripes fashion contest in the Plaza de Mexico. Dress in reds, whites and blue, stars and stripes or even in camouflage styles. The other category will be best pin-up or celebrity look.
The grand prize is a one-night stay in a Fairmont Grand Del Mar guestroom along with a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings for two at Addison Restaurant. Register at: www.dmtc.com Diana Cavagnaro is an internationally renowned Couture Milliner based in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter. Learn more about our Hat Designer, Teacher & Blogger at www.DianaCavagnaro.com