Sardines
Evening Dress
1963 (designed), 1973 (made)
1963 (designed), 1973 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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.
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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sardines (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Bonded wool jersey and taffeta lining |
| Brief description | Dress of jersey, designed by Mary Quant, England, 1963, 1973 replica |
| Physical description | Evening dress of deep rust-pink bonded wool jersey. It is full length with deep V-neck trimmed with black and cream stripes round neckline, cuffs and hem. It is lined with rust taffeta and fastens with a zip at the centre back. |
| Production type | Ready to wear |
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label | [Mary Quant exhibition, 2019]
‘SARDINES’
1963
This long dress may be the longue robe from the 39 Ginger Group designs shown at the Hôtel de Crillon, Paris, on 29 April 1963. Two other long dresses, named ‘Blazer’ and ‘Beans’, are listed in the more expensive range. As the French programme says, it was ‘perhaps presumptuous’ to present young British fashion in France, but the talent of Mary Quant was ‘undeniable’.
Bonded wool jersey
Labelled ‘Mary Quant’
Made in the Mary Quant sample workroom for the 1973 exhibition, Mary Quant’s London
Given by Mary Quant Ltd
V&A: T.106-1976(30/03/2020) |
| Credit line | Given by Mary Quant. |
| Production | Remade in 1973 for Museum of London retrospective |
| Summary | 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. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.106-1976 |
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| Record created | November 30, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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