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Evening Dress

1962 (made)
Artist/Maker
Quant, Mary (designer)
Place of origin
London (made)

This evening mini-dress in black crepe was designed by Mary Quant around 1962. Mary Quant was world-famous for championing the mini-skirt, and in the 1960s her name became associated with the predominantly black Chelsea look, with its beatnik overtones.


Object details

Categories
Fashion
Womenswear
SCRAN
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Evening dress
Materials and techniques
Machine-sewn rayon crêpe, pleated frills and zip fastening
Rayon Crêpe
Machine Sewing
Pleated
Brief description
Evening mini-dress in moss rayon crêpe, designed by Mary Quant, London, ca. 1962, altered late 1960s.
Physical description
Evening mini-dress in moss rayon crêpe with spaghetti shoulder straps (two on each side). Machine-sewn. Seamed under the bust and glides over the body to finish in a double tier of permanently pleated frills. Full-length side zip fastening.
Marks and inscriptions
'Mary / Quant / London' (Label; woven label, black on orange; sewn into inside neckline of dress)
Gallery label
  • [Mary Quant exhibition, 2019] PARTY DRESS About 1962, altered late 1960s Quant’s designs for party dresses were sometimes inspired by 1920s ‘flapper’ styles with swinging pleats, which were perfect for dancing. Using black, a colour traditionally associated with male business dress or mourning clothes in the 1960s, was another typically bold choice. Silk chiffon Labelled ‘Mary Quant London’ Made in London Given by Mrs A. Walford V&A: T.52-1985(30/02/2020)
  • Mary Quant challenged the formality of prevailing dress codes and provided her young clientele with adventurous styles. This diminutive, unwaisted evening dress with spaghetti shoulder straps is reminiscent of 1920s styles. It caused a sensation because of its simplicity and short length.(1997)
Credit line
Given by Mrs A. Walford
Object history
Registered File number 1983/2042.
This dress, reminiscent of 1920s styles, caused a sensation because of its simplicity and short length. Its style is influenced by 1920s tubular shifts as well as 1950s cocktail dresses.
Historical context
Quant launched her Ginger Group collections in 1963. The 1967 collection featured a group of diminutive dresses in medium-weight jersey knit.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subject depicted
Zips
Summary
This evening mini-dress in black crepe was designed by Mary Quant around 1962. Mary Quant was world-famous for championing the mini-skirt, and in the 1960s her name became associated with the predominantly black Chelsea look, with its beatnik overtones.
Bibliographic references
  • de la Haye, Amy, ed. The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997. Victoria and Albert Publications, London, 1997, p. 79.
  • Mendes, Valerie. Black In Fashion. London: V&A Publications, 1999.
  • A similar version of this party dress, ‘Chi Chi’ featured in a Mary Quant advertisement, published in Tatler and Bystander, 9 September 1962. Modelled by Celia Hammond, photographed by Terence Donovan. © Photograph Terence Donovan, courtesy Terence Donovan Archive
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.52-1985

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Record createdDecember 16, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72024/evening-dress-quant-mary/
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