British designer and Princess of Punk Dame Zandra Rhodes is best known for her flamboyant textiles, bold prints, and vividly coloured hair. Since rising to prominence in the late ’60s, she has dressed the likes of Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand, Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana. Her work merges punk energy with haute couture, often treating fabric as a canvas for hand-drawn patterns. Today, she remains as relevant as ever, celebrated for her boundary-pushing creativity and lasting influence on global fashion.
Here, Rhodes – who lives in a kaleidoscopic penthouse above Bermondsey’s Fashion and Textile Museum, which she founded in 2003 – shares her favourite things.
“I recently got two of these delightful lamps for my bedside tables. They add a flush of joy to any room and can also be recharged and taken anywhere with you. The perfect little dopamine hit.”
“These are my go-to felt tip pens for drawing and the only ones I use. They are from Japanese brand Tombow and are dual-ended with one thicker and one thinner end, giving options for the thickness of your stroke. I always have a sandwich bag full of them when travelling but this travel case makes it even easier.”
## Stone & Mason The Tortoiseshell Stone Bag & Crystal Beauty Kit, £325 “This special evening bag designed by Stone & Mason – a mother-daughter brand based in the UK – is my go-to for red carpet accessorising. This bag has a unique sculptural shape that fits all my essentials, such as a phone and lipstick. It also comes with a matching gua sha and face roller so I can beautify on the go.”
“I just launched my memoir, Iconic, in paperback format. It talks through my life and story in 50 objects and each chapter is illustrated by me. The new paperback edition makes it lighter and the perfect travel partner.”
“Anyone who knows me knows that I have a total sweet tooth. Always having a box of these special Charbonnel et Walker milk chocolates in my penthouse or bag when I’m on the go keeps me sweet. It helps that the packaging is a beautiful pastel hue, too.”
Andrew Logan Fried Egg brooch, £400 (sold out)
“I have a whole wall of Andrew Logan mirrored brooches in my wardrobe, but my all-time classic is this fried egg brooch. I get so many compliments when wearing it. Any piece of Andrew’s jewellery really brings together an outfit.”
“I don’t leave the house without my make-up on – sometimes I even sleep in it. My trademark blue eye is thanks to Mac and its stay-put excess gel eyeliner in an ultramarine Perpetual Shock colour.”
“This beautiful bag designed in collaboration with Australian accessories brand Poppy Lissiman fits everything needed for beach or office: my laptop, diary and all my felt tip pens for drawing. It comes in three colourways and is screenprinted on canvas – a traditional print method I have used throughout my whole career. The zig zag finishing is inspired by my early Dinosaur coat of the ’70s.”
Belvoir elderflower cordial, £4.50
“I’ve never been a drinker – alcohol just sends me to sleep. Elderflower cordial is my go-to if I’m socialising or at home. I mix elderflower cordial by Belvoir with sparkling water – it’s very refreshing.”
“I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with Swedish brand Happy Socks in the past and am lucky enough to have accumulated a great deal of fun, colourful socks from partnerships with them. Zandra x Happy Socks sold out due to popularity but the brand’s mainline offering adds such a pop of joy to your outfit and brighten your day. I’d wear these pink stripe ones with a mule shoe so you can see them in all their glory. The sock is the outfit.”
Things I Love is a series devoted to London’s most exciting tastemakers and the products they’re obsessed with.
Read about the products Bao co-founder and creative director Erchen Chang loves.
