Dress
1963 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Mary Quant's first boutique, Bazaar, opened in King's Road in London 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 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 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 | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Jersey |
| Brief description | Pinafore dress and belt of wool and synthetic double jersey, designed by Mary Quant, made in England, 1963. |
| Physical description | Pinafore dress and belt. Dark maroon wool jersey with wide stripes of burnt-orange on the vest-style top, back zipper. |
| Gallery label | [Mary Quant exhibition, 2019]
PINAFORE DRESS WITH BELT
1963
Jennifer Opie studied at Chelsea Art School, and remembers ‘tip-toing into Mary Quant’s shop in my first year and lusting after so much there, none of which could I afford’. A year later, the new Ginger Group designs ‘came just occasionally within my pocket [so] I really felt I’d arrived’. Jennifer Opie worked at the V&A from 1966 to 2004, becoming curator of ceramics and glass.
Wool and synthetic double jersey
Labelled ‘Mary Quant’s Ginger Group’
Made by Steinbergs, Pontypridd, Wales (probably)
Given by Jennifer Opie
V&A: T.91:1-1986(30/03/2020) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Jennifer Opie |
| Object history | Registered File number 1986/796. |
| Summary | Mary Quant's first boutique, Bazaar, opened in King's Road in London 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 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 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. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.91:1, 2-1986 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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