Dress
1961 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Mary Quant’s boutique, Bazaar, opened in London's King's Road in 1955, and epitomised the look worn by the 'Chelsea Set'. Inspired by the informal clothes worn by artists, dancers and musicians, Bazaar sold an eclectic mix of women's clothes, accessories and costume jewellery.
Despite the warm woollen fabric, this 1961 design is based on a summer sports dress. This playful unexpectedness is typically Quant. She made informal dresses in formal fabrics, and did summer designs in winter-weight fabrics. Her designs were always bold, graphic, and youthful. Strong contrasts of colour - here, brown and black - were a particular trademark. This dress was worn pinafore-style over a black polo-neck jumper, with flat shoes and dark stockings. These deliberately youthful designs rebelled against the high heels and more mature, conservative styles of most contemporary female fashion.
Despite the warm woollen fabric, this 1961 design is based on a summer sports dress. This playful unexpectedness is typically Quant. She made informal dresses in formal fabrics, and did summer designs in winter-weight fabrics. Her designs were always bold, graphic, and youthful. Strong contrasts of colour - here, brown and black - were a particular trademark. This dress was worn pinafore-style over a black polo-neck jumper, with flat shoes and dark stockings. These deliberately youthful designs rebelled against the high heels and more mature, conservative styles of most contemporary female fashion.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Wool |
| Brief description | Day dress, brown and black wool, designed by Mary Quant for Bazaar, London, 1961. |
| Physical description | Brown wool dress with gently fitted bodice, dropped waist with top-stitched belt that buttons in front, and flared knee-length skirt. Contrast black band outlining deep V neckline. Sleeveless. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'BAZAAR / DESIGNED BY MARY QUANT' (label) |
| Credit line | Given by Ms Jasmine Grassie |
| Object history | Worn by Mrs. Jasmine Grassie. As Mrs. Jasmine Hawker, she lent this dress to the 1973 retrospective at the Museum of London of Mary Quant's designs where it was exhibit number 12, described as: "Pinafore dress, 1961. Camel pinafore dress with deep V-neck trimmed with black military braid, low slung belt, and flare below the hip." Registered File number 1994/2121. |
| Association | |
| Summary | Mary Quant’s boutique, Bazaar, opened in London's King's Road in 1955, and epitomised the look worn by the 'Chelsea Set'. Inspired by the informal clothes worn by artists, dancers and musicians, Bazaar sold an eclectic mix of women's clothes, accessories and costume jewellery. Despite the warm woollen fabric, this 1961 design is based on a summer sports dress. This playful unexpectedness is typically Quant. She made informal dresses in formal fabrics, and did summer designs in winter-weight fabrics. Her designs were always bold, graphic, and youthful. Strong contrasts of colour - here, brown and black - were a particular trademark. This dress was worn pinafore-style over a black polo-neck jumper, with flat shoes and dark stockings. These deliberately youthful designs rebelled against the high heels and more mature, conservative styles of most contemporary female fashion. |
| Bibliographic reference | Carter, Ernestine. Mary Quant's London, London Museum, 1973
12 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.219-1995 |
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| Record created | March 15, 2006 |
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