Dame Barbara Mary Quant, a symbol of female liberation. Her design aimed to let women express themselves untethered and feel free. She’s known for introducing and popularizing high hemlines and defining the Swinging 60s’ fashion scene.
Dame Barbara Mary Quant, a symbol of female liberation. Her design aimed to let women express themselves untethered and feel free. She’s known for introducing and popularizing high hemlines and defining the Swinging 60s’ fashion scene.
With her introduction of hotpants and mini skirts, many women still wanted to wear stockings. However, stockings came with uncomfortable hardware and suspender belts that couldn’t be hidden without long skirts. Quants solution were tights. Starting at triple times the average stocking cost, they didn’t catch on quickly. Over time, more colors became available and their cost came down so women everywhere came to love them.
Quant designed to free women’s legs and to be comfortable. She wanted her pieces to be fun and convenient. She didn’t want to conform to restrictive standards and women loved her design for it. The high high hems became a craze instantly.
Though trousers and pants for women were available, Quant popularized them. With the many patterns, styles and colors she offered, pants became stylish for women in the public eye. They weren’t just a garment for cycling or horseback riding-- they were a statement, a representation of female autonomy.