Why Mary Quant is a Fashion Icon to Vintage Clothing Fanatics

Much like her punk counterpart Vivienne Westwoodpants in the summer, whilst keeping skinny rib polo
who sold her clothes in her husbands shop, Maryneck sweaters, knee high PVC boots and woollen
Quant opened a clothing shop named 'Bazaar' withpinafore dresses for the winter time.
her husband and an accountant in one of London'sAlthough there is no way of proving the patent,
busiest and most fashionable shopping areas, King'sMary Quant's name is one which is most synonymous
Road.with the invention of the mini skirt (although there
Bazaar was opened in 1955 when Mary was just 21are many of other designers who claim the same
years old, but soon she became fed up of the rangething).Such short skirts worn in public were quite
of clothes available to order in and decided thatrevolutionary and certainly quite risque at the time
designing her own clothes to sell in the shop was thebut they soon become incredibly popular, especially
only way to move forward. Within 10 years Bazaarwhen worn with patterned tights and knee high
was filled with her own personal designs and Quantboots.
was forced to hire more machinists to keep up withNow Mary Quant is in her mid-seventies, her clothing
the demands.has gone international and she has boutiques in Paris,
Somewhat unknowingly, Mary, her husband and theTokyo and New York as well as London. Since the
accountant friend whom had joined them in openingdays when Mary was responsible for bringing Britain
Bazaar had created a fresh and revolutionary newout of that boring, conventional clothing style she has
fashion style which would be later known as thebeen awarded an OBE and is registered as a Fellow
'Chelsea Look'.of the Chartered Society of Designers (FCSD).
Just as Mary Quant had wished, soon the youngThe contemporary fashion world looks back on Mary
people of the UK were wearing interchangeable andQuant's work and strongly appreciates her work
somewhat unisex garments that were spruced upwhich created that iconic look of the 60's.
with white plastic collared dresses, mini skirts and hot