How Debbie Harry made her iconic zebra dress
Whenever anyone mentions the name Debbie Harry, others in the near-vicinity will likely immediately think of two things: power and glamour. It’s no surprise, particularly considering the fact that she is largely hailed as one of the most legendary female rockers, whose mere mention often evokes the iconic image of her in the zebra dress.
The photograph of Harry standing before a zebra-patterned wall in a matching dress has become one of her and Chris Stein’s most iconic collaborations, caught in a single moment in time. In her memoir, Harry revealed an intriguing detail — the dress was fashioned from a discarded pillowcase found by their landlord, which they later transformed into the dress that graced the pages of Creem magazine.
As an esteemed photographer, Stein once discussed the root of his desire to follow this path, leading to his capturing of subjects and muses in their most raw moments. “I remember being a little kid using those little box cameras,” Stein told Hunger. “I also had a magazine with a very evocative picture of a snowy street, and I looked at it all the time. I felt so drawn into this image even as a child. That was the photo where I first really felt that pull, that desire to capture things.”
The image of Harry itself has become somewhat synonymous with rock and roll allure. More than just a photograph, the image depicts Harry at the height of her iconic fashion reputation, alongside epitomising her signature blend of punk edge and glamour. More recently, Harry delved into the story behind the dress during a guest appearance on The Tonight Show, where she gave Jimmy Fallon more details about how her landlord suggested cutting the pillowcase into a dress.
“He said, ‘just cut here and look, it’s already there!'” she mused. She also explained how she ended up on the cover of Wrestling magazine, to which she admitted being a giant wrestling fan after living close by to the publicist for Vince McMahon. An endeavour that drew her to cross paths with André the Giant, a French wrestler and actor known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”.
“André was very nice,” Harry said. “He shook my hand and my hand disappeared.”
To this day, Harry’s enduring legacy continues to exude charm and allure. Her impact as a woman in the male-dominated music landscape of her time was immense; she effortlessly defied stereotypes, challenged conventions, and established herself as a multifaceted talent beyond just being a lead singer. Her lyrics often conveyed themes of female empowerment, independence, and resilience, deeply resonating with audiences.
Fronting Blondie, she established herself as the ultimate maestro in blending punk, new wave, and pop, showcasing her distinctive vocals and the band’s eclectic sound. Anthems like ‘Heart of Glass’, ‘One Way or Another’, and ‘Call Me’ not only dominated the charts but became anthems for a generation of women seeking their voices and identities in a rapidly evolving world.
