from the left: Mary Quant "Peachy" dress and hat 1960, Mini Dress 1964, Sleeveless dress 1960.
60's fashion was influenced mainly by Op Art, Pop Art and progress in science. Young people wanted to have something from fashion on their own to not look like their parents. "The Mod Look" was the main fraction in 60's fashion. That's why Mary Quant started her own clothes line, in 1955 she opened Bazaar, a boutique on the King's Road where she was selling low priced clothes. Her clothes were fresh and interesting for young people, they were made of simple shapes with use of strong plain colours like red, prune and green.
"Black Daisy" logo were putted on everything Mary Quant's brand produced. On her clothes, eye-wear and even on her own doll "Daisy" created and produced in 1973.
Jean Shrimpton in clothes designed by Mary Quant
Mary Quant fashion show in London, 1967
Mary Quant - born 11 Feb. 1934 in Blackheath,London, England. She was one of the designers who invited mini-skirt. She met her husband and business partner in 1953. By 1966 she was working with eighteen manufacturers. Futuristic-looking vinyl clothing and bold geometric shapes..that look were completed with fake eye-lashes smoky eyes and pale lipsticks.
"What a great many people still don't realize is the Look isn't just the garments you wear. It's the way you put your make-up on, the way you do your hair, the sort of stockings you choose, the way you walk and stand; even the way you smoke your fag." - Mary Quant
Influenced by Op Art!
The monochrome geometric prints which we can see on photos above of Op Art perfectly complemented the bold shapes of the modern look. Op Art was all about the print and simple contrasting colours such as black and white or bright primary colours. Pop Art and Op Art were separate movements but they are often confused with each other. Time magazine described Op Art as "Picture that attacks the Eye"
Two examples of Op Art.
"Fashion is not frivolous. It is a part of being alive today." - Mary Quant
"Fashion is not frivolous. It is a part of being alive today." - Mary Quant
analysing clothes made by Mary Quant...
One of the main points in clothing made by Mary Quant: they were made for young people, which in that times were looking for something new and fresh, something simple and modern. The most popular movement in 60's was Op Art so that influenced in big scale 60's fashion. Her clothes communicate.. that just by looking at them we can say what was happening in 60's. Mary Quant's clothes were mainly made with thick fabrics and popular at that time - vinyl. She invented mini-skirt, her dresses and skirts were very short and minimalistic. When she started with her Bazaar she made clothes by herself but by 1953 she was working with eighteen manufacturers. When we are looking at clothes and accessories made by Mary Quant i think we can feel the real atmosphere of 60's. Clothes made by Mary Quant mainly link to "mod-look" and Op Art. Op Art started when "The Pill" was invented and there was huge progress in science so people were trying lots of chemicals, pills and drugs. That's where Op and Psychedelic Art movements started.
Twiggy Lawson in clothes designed by Mary Quant.
sources: http://www.vam.ac.uk/ , http://www.op-art.co.uk/ , http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk - helped me find biographic and basic informations.
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