5 of the most important fashion styles Dame Mary Quant put her own twist on
The fashion designer has died aged 93
Dame Mary Quant is widely credited with popularising the mini skirt during the Swinging Sixties, but also became known for her ground-breaking designs.
Following her death aged 93, we look at some of the most memorable styles she crafted and put her own twist on.
1. The mini skirt
Models present creations by the designer Mary Quant in London, 1967
Dame Mary began experimenting with shorter hemlines in the late 1950s, debuting the mini skirt – named after her favourite car – the following decade to great acclaim.
2. The shift dress
A Mary Quant shift dress on show in 1969
Alongside micro-minis, Dame Mary favoured sleek shift dresses in block colours and bold stripes.
Made from easy-to-wear fabrics such as jersey and wool, the sporty designs often featured zips or button fronts.
3. Tights
Models present creations by the designer Mary Quant in London, 1967
Prior to the Swinging Sixties, most women wore flesh-coloured stockings held up with garters or suspender belts hidden beneath knee-length skirts.
Dame Mary collaborated with the Nylon Hosiery Company to create tights in bright colours to match her super-short skirts and dresses.
4. Trousers
A model wears a sailor-inspired outfit from Mary Quant’s 1972 spring/summer collection
Dame Mary is responsible for helping to bring women’s trousers into the mainstream.
From skinny cigarette pants to wide-leg styles, she encouraged the wearing of trousers for all occasions.
5. Jumpsuits
Models in Mary Quant jumpsuits, 1975
She was a big proponent of one-piece designs such as jumpsuits.
In the Sixties she debuted super-short ‘hot pant’ versions, while in the Seventies she introduced wide-leg styles with hoods or matching headscarves.
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