Swinging Sixties style icon and fashion pioneer Dame Mary Quant dies aged 93

Virgin Radio

13 Apr 2023, 16:06

The fashion world is mourning after the sad news that 60's style icon Dame Mary Quant has died aged 93. Her family have confirmed that the instrumental fashion figure, who created hot pants and the mini-skirt, has passed away peacefully at home.

The style guru was awarded an OBE in 1966 and made a dame in 2015 for her services to the industry.

On behalf of her family, a statement read: "Dame Mary Quant died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning.

"Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties.

"She opened her first shop Bazaar in the Kings Road in 1955 and her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion."

Former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, wrote on Twitter: "RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship - a visionary who was much more than a great haircut."

Pattie Boyd wrote: "Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. Mary insisted on making George's and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP."

Exhibition hosts of Dame Mary's designs, The V&A Museum, tweeted: "It's impossible to overstate Quant's contribution to fashion.

"She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women.

"Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing vision."

Curator of the V&A's Dame Mary Quant exhibition, Jenny Lister, said Quant 'blasted through barriers of snobbery and tradition and will always represent the joyful freedom of fashion in the 1960s'.

"With her unique sense of humour, style, and determination to democratise and share the fun and creativity of her designs, she provided a new kind of role model for young women, creating a space for them to be themselves," she said.

"She helped to define Britain's global identity as a centre of streetstyle and innovation, with signature looks such as PVC macs, colourful tights, and the skinny-rib sweater."

Dame Mary said previously of her inspiration: "It was the girls on King's Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted.

"I wore them very short and the customers would say, 'shorter, shorter'."

Dame Mary told the Guardian in 1967 that 'good taste is death, vulgarity is life' and described her creations in strong colours as 'arrogant, aggressive and sexy', featuring geometric designs, polka dots and fabrics such as PVC.

Writing in her 1966 book Quant by Quant, Dame Mary recalled: "City gents in bowler hats beat on our shop window with their umbrellas shouting 'immoral!' and 'disgusting!' at the sight of our mini-skirts over the tights, but customers poured in to buy."

In an interview in 2012 she was asked how she felt about her success. She shared: "I mostly felt, my God, what a marvellous life you had, you are very fortunate," she said. "I think to myself, 'you lucky woman — how did you have all this fun?'"

RIP Dame Mary.

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