Mini and bright colors — the legacy of Mary Quant

The 1960s are probably the most exciting and multifaceted period in the history of fashion.

Two trends have inextricably merged in it: the attraction to strict conservative classics in the early 60s, and absolutely opposite trends in the second half of the decade: bright, catchy, psychedelic colors, short dresses, hats with wide brims, the most incredible hairstyles for women, ponchos and capes, long hair and beards for men.

The scope for daring fantasies has never been so huge.

The era of the sexual revolution, women's emancipation, emancipation and fashion for leftist ideas among young people, brought its radical adjustments to women's images.

?English-speaking countries, Britain and the USA, starting with the expansion of the Beatles' popularity, have become new trendsetters. Among the people who defined fashion trends at that time, Mary Quant deserves special attention.

In Eastern Europe, her name and contribution to the development of fashion are not so widely known, but she is on a par with the main icons of the style of the 60s.

After all, she is not only a pioneer of world fashion, but also a real inspiration for many contemporary artists still. Kuant offered her own special, very modern vision of what fashion is.Mary was born in 1934 in London.

In childhood and adolescence, she often stayed at home and sewed clothes, as she later admitted: "I think I always knew that I wanted to create clothes... clothes that would be fun to wear."

Her parents did not want her to go to art school, but, according to her, with great difficulty she managed to convince them. As a result, she graduated from Goldsmiths College as an illustrator.

I think I always knew that I wanted to create clothes... clothes that would be fun to wear.

Her first novelties were mini skirts and short dresses, which she sold at her Bazaar boutique in Chelsea, opened in 1955 with her friend Archie McNair. Kuant surprisingly accurately felt and guessed the fashion trends of her generation.

By the mid-1960s, she had reduced the length of the skirt to twenty centimeters above the knee. Dresses of bright colors and geometric patterns have become Mary's calling card.

As Kuant said, she created clothes that she wanted to wear herself: mini skirts, short dresses, bright tights and a characteristic bra called Booby Traps.

Her clothes were wildly popular, and everyone wanted to get a contract with her. One of its partners was J.C. Penney, a large retail chain in the United States at that time. In 1964, she began sewing clothes for the newly opened Topshop.illustrator.

At this time, Mary Quant launched another important trend in fashion – short women's shorts. She also played a big role in creating the image of Mods, Chelsea and Lolita.

The influence of Kuant on cosmetics (smoky eyes) and the fashion for short bob-square haircuts, which remain relevant even today, was huge.

Kuant was not just a style icon in her own right and an excellent fashion designer, she set the most important mass trends for the wardrobes of the era through her store on King's Road.

Mini skirts, short shorts, geometric shapes, colored tights and vinyl shoes – we owe it all to fashion pioneer Mary Quant.