a fashion
Mary Quant and Vidal Sassoon, 1964. © Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo
revolutionary
A new exhibition at Bendigo Art Gallery showcases the clothing and cosmetic designs of a London trendsetter whose styles changed the shape of women’s wardrobes. By Emma Busowsky Cox, Curator, Bendigo Art Gallery British fashion designer Dame Mary Quant personified the energy and fun of swinging ’60s London and was a powerful role model for the working woman. Emerging at a time when post-war Britain was still in recovery mode, Quant and her bright, fun, youthful fashion was perfectly placed to usher in the new era of growing affluence and the social mobility of young people benefiting from higher wages, further education and new opportunities for women.
not wish to wear the traditional styles worn by their mothers and grandmothers and wanted a new look to reflect the changing times. At a time of growing activism and struggle for equal rights, Quant had a visionary take on the role of women and led the way by working hard and taking risks. In less than a decade, she grew her tiny boutique in Kings Road, Chelsea, into an international brand. “I didn’t have time to wait for women’s lib!” she stated.
Challenging long-held conventions, Quant popularised the miniskirt, colourful tights and tailored trousers, encouraging a new age of feminism. She recognised that, like herself, young women did
Bendigo Art Gallery is the exclusive Australian venue for the exhibition Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, which runs from March 20 to July 11. 19
