Dame Mary Quant, the fashion pioneer who made waves in the 1960s with her iconic miniskirt, left a remarkable inheritance of £2.9 million to her son, Orlando, as revealed in her will.
This groundbreaking British designer, who passed away at the age of 93 in April of last year, channeled nearly all her wealth from her illustrious style empire into her family.
Breaking Fashion Norms
Quant was a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world, famously stating she “didn’t have time to wait for women’s lib.”
She took it upon herself to liberate young women from the restrictive clothing styles of the 1950s and 1960s, ushering in a vibrant new era of fashion.
In her will, dated 2008, she allocated £50,000 to her younger brother, Tony, while the remainder of her estate was placed in trust for Orlando and her three grandchildren.
A Trailblazer in Design
Known for raising hemlines to daring new levels, Dame Mary also introduced the sack dress, making women’s trousers and tights must-have wardrobe staples.
She popularized the chic bob haircut, championed by her friend, Vidal Sassoon.
Born in 1930, Quant began her journey at Goldsmiths in London and opened her first boutique, Bazaar, in Chelsea in 1955.
Her signature style, characterized by short hemlines, bold colors, and clean lines, became a global sensation.
Influences and Innovations
Dame Mary drew inspiration from the elegant designs of Coco Chanel and the spirited flappers of the 1920s.
She created fashionable looks that combined short tunic dresses with vibrant tights in colors like ochre, plum, and ginger, effectively reinventing the outfits of her youth.
While the worlds of music, film, and theater experienced their own revolutions, it was Mary’s innovative vision that defined the aesthetic of the time.
Fashion for the Masses
To ensure her designs were accessible to the everyday woman, Quant launched a more affordable diffusion line, Ginger Group, in 1963, which found its way into department stores nationwide.
It’s estimated that around 7 million women owned at least one of her creations, with many still enjoying her cosmetics range.
The Miniskirt Revolution
Reflecting on her groundbreaking creation in 2014, Quant described the miniskirt as a symbol of freedom and liberation.
She credited the girls of King’s Road for its invention, noting, “I was making clothes which would let you run and dance.”
Her small shop, Bazaar, in the bohemian heart of King’s Road, became the epicenter of London’s “Swinging Chelsea,” laying the groundwork for what would evolve into an international fashion empire.
Iconic Partnerships and Recognition
The “Chelsea look,” with its signature short skirts, gained mainstream popularity, especially through Quant’s collaboration with Twiggy, Britain’s first supermodel.
Other notable figures, like Jean Shrimpton, Pattie Boyd, and Cilla Black, also helped elevate her designs to the forefront of fashion.
In 2015, she was honored as a Dame for her outstanding contributions to British fashion.
Final Years and Lasting Impact
Dame Mary spent her later years in the picturesque village of Albury, near Guildford.
A Blackheath native and daughter of Welsh educators, her unique style flourished during the dynamic era of Swinging London in the 1950s, leaving an indelible mark on the world of fashion.
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