Punk Gets Refined - Punk Chic From Zandra Rhodes
Around 1977, Zandra Rhodes the British dress designer, took elements of the punk style and used it in her collections making refined and more elegant versions in bright colours which were more acceptable to the rich and famous. She used gold safety pins and gold chains to connect and decorate uneven hems and slashed holes. The carefully placed holes were edged with gold thread and the hems adorned with exquisite embroidery. She had always coloured her hair with exotic colours and worn it as a form of plumage.
Watered down punk chic worked its way to the top end of the market. Versace too, also decorated dresses with large safety pins, most notably a black dress that Liz Hurley wore to accompany Hugh Grant at the premiere of the film 'Four Weddings And A Funeral' in about 1992.
Now every fashion shop has torn and distressed clothing items. Many are similar in concept to those originally sported by the first punks of the 1970s.