The fashion world has lost a true icon with the passing of Dame Mary Quant. The legendary British fashion designer, credited with inventing and popularizing the miniskirt and hotpants, passed away peacefully at home in Surrey, UK at the age of 93.
Born in London in 1930, Quant’s influence on fashion began in 1953 when she opened her first boutique after graduating from Goldsmiths University. It was her simple, youthful designs that caught the attention of the youth culture in the 1960s, leading to her creation of one of the most iconic fashion statements of the decade – the miniskirt.
Quant not only created the miniskirt but also gave it its name, after her favorite car, the Mini. She was quick to credit the girls on the King’s Road for inventing the look, stating that she simply made easy, youthful clothes that allowed her customers to move and run freely. She described the women who wore her designs as “curiously feminine, but their femininity lies in their attitude rather than in their appearance.”
In addition to the miniskirt, Quant also designed short shorts in the late 1960s that would become known as hotpants. She also invented the colored and patterned tights that people often wore with miniskirts and hotpants in the 60s and 70s.
Dame Mary Quant’s influence on fashion cannot be overstated. Her designs revolutionized the way women dressed and paved the way for new attitudes towards femininity and freedom of movement. Her legacy lives on today through the many designers who have been inspired by her work.
In the wake of her passing, the fashion world mourns the loss of a true legend, but celebrates the impact she has had on the industry and the world at large. Her designs will continue to be a source of inspiration for generations to come.