The British Fashion Revolution!
The Mary Quant exhibition was a really interesting take on how one woman inspired a trend of a whole decade. Throughout, you can see how she expresses her point of view about women's fashion, and blended her style into a new trend that gave a fresh look to 60’s fashion. She popularised the mini skirt, the hot pants and the patterned tights. Also she developed a collection of underwear that was revolutionary for that era, giving comfort to women whilst still looking glamorous.
“The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes don't wear her” - Mary Quant
Quant created shapes that were comfortable for the young woman, that allowed her to jump, dance, and have fun freely. The one section that captured my attention was the “Wet Collection” that was based on PVC raincoats. In this, she collaborated with the manufacturer “Alligator Rainwear”, a classic British brand that was captivated by her colourful and eccentric style. The colours were bright combined with black and white, developing a young aesthetic for the
brand. Combining this material with the colours and new shapes, resulted in an exciting collection that captured everyone’s eyes in the 60’s.
She was a young designer who understood the youth-orientated market and wanted her clothes to be sold in affordable boutiques for the masses. By doing this she truly helped define an era that saw women gaining more independence and power.
Is the first time that the V&A has two big exhibitions together, at the moment they have Dior and Mary Quant at the same time. It is a really good exhibition that will open a window to the 60's.