Trouser suit
- Place of origin:
- Date:
1966 (designed)
1973 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Quant, Mary, born 1934 (designer)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Credit Line:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Image in copyright
Mary Quant’s first boutique, Bazaar, opened in London's King's Road in 1955, launching a successful fashion career. Her youthful easy-to-wear clothing became so popular that in 1963, she launched a lower-priced ready-to-wear range called 'Ginger Group'. She also entered into licensing agreements with manufacturers to produce hosiery, underwear, cosmetics and accessories bearing her name. Almost anyone, whatever their income, could spare the money to buy a pair of 'Mary Quant' stockings or a lipstick. This enabled girls who could not otherwise afford her clothing to feel in touch with fashion, and made Mary Quant into a household name and a commercial success.
Her contribution to British life was marked by a retrospective exhibition at the London Museum in 1973. The exhibition included many of Quant's most revolutionary garments, some remade as facsimiles if original ones could not be found. This 1966 cream and navy wool trouser-suit was one of the outfits remade. It looks remarkably like a modern tracksuit, and was based on sports and utility wear.
Physical description
Cream wool jacket and trousers. Inset navy bands around thighs and armholes. Collarless jacket with rounded neck, zipper front, sleeves bloused slightly into cuffs. Welt pockets outlined in navy at hips and at knees on trousers, zipper access with large O ring pulls. Ankle cuffs on trousers.
Navy wool beret
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1966 (designed)
1973 (made)
Artist/maker
Quant, Mary, born 1934 (designer)
Materials and Techniques
Wool , metal zips
Object history note
This cream and navy wool jumpsuit looks very like a modern tracksuit and is based on sports and utility wear.
Much of Quant's clothing was designed to be 'mix and match', a new concept for an era of ready-to-wear clothing. In her book Quant on Quant, the designer gives the following advice:
'Every girl should go for separates. She should think of each piece as a part of a jigsaw, then build up a comprehensive fashion picture. I would suggest a wardrobe in miniature like this. Take a pinafore dress, a jacket, skirt, sweater and pants that all go happily together and you have umpteen outfits...Fashion should be a game and it is fun to work out for yourself the different ways of wearing the different garments.'
Descriptive line
Trouser suit. Quant, Mary. 1966, remade 1973. White wool with navy bands & zippers.
Exhibition History
Hats An Anthology by Stephen Jones (Victoria and Albert Museum 24/02/2009-31/05/2009)
Mary Quant's London (Museum of London 01/01/1973-31/12/1973)
Production Note
Remade 1973
Attribution note: Remade for 1973 retrospective
Reason For Production: Retail
Reason For Production: Exhibition
Materials
Wool; Metal
Categories
Clothing; Fashion; Sport; Day wear
Production Type
Copy
Collection code
T&F
