Vickie Lavanty Designs Hair for Zandra Rhodes’ “A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles” Exhibition Fashion Show at the Mingei International Museum Fall 2010

Vickie Lavanty, alongside her longtime friend and famed London designer, Dame Zandra Rhodes, displayed vintage and progressive looks and fashion on the runway at the Mingei International Museum’ opening of its “A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles” exhibition in the Fall of 2010.

The exhibition included actual textiles from Zandra’s personal collection alongside garments she fashioned from them. This unique display by the Mingei offered a visual explanation to the viewer about how she creates her textile designs from the actual textiles. Celebrities and royals around the world have been photographed in Zandra Rhodes’ textile masterpieces, including one worn by Diana Ross which was featured in the exhibition.

The clothes out-shined everything at the Mingei’s opening of “A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles”

Up dos with texture added

Model with Geisha-Fling up do for Mingei Runway Show

Hair design with added color to incentives audience’s eye while model on runway

Added texture to voluminous hairstyle to shine on the runway and compliment Zandra’s wardrobe

“I love that the Mingei explained they displayed ‘textiles and objects from various cultures… alongside Rhodes’ work, initiating a provocative conversation about influences and inspiration,’” said Vickie. She explained that, “Zandra curated this exhibition beginning with designs from my favorite collection of 1969. 1969 was a time-period when I was a young student at Vidal Sassoon’s school in London where, not only did I learn to design hair, I learned about fashion and how to design a total look. Zandra and Vidal were the two most influential and inspirational persons in my development as a hair designer, and seeing the designs from this period displayed at the Mingei was a flash from the past of a pivotal, magical time in my life.”

The exhibition opened with a glamorous, what one described as “psychedelic” runway show, featuring Zandra Rhodes’ original and vintage designs and up dos and hair extensions designed by Vickie Lavanty. “The hair Zandra and I collaborated on was particularly fabulous: Big Brassy Hair to go with the bold makeup including bright lips and tribal eyebrows; all designed to accentuate the remarkable vintage designs on display in the exhibition and on the runaway models,” explained Vickie.

Zandra and her supportive friends enjoying the post-runway festivities

Zandra’s “Glass Slipper” made by Andrew Logan. Then original shoe design was adorned with glass

Make sure to check out the San Diego Mingei International Museum’s Facebook page for more photographs on this once in a life evening and exhibition.

Mingei super models in caftans designed by Zandra Rhodes and fantasy up dos by Vickie Lavanty

Behind the scenes models getting ready for the runway and practicing their walks