Woke up this morning feelin’ fine*
by chuckofish
Do you remember Mary Quant?
She was born on this day in 1934 in London, the daughter of Welsh teachers, and became a famous fashion designer and British icon. She is credited with inventing the miniskirt (named after her favorite car–ahem) and as such was an instrumental figure in the 1960s London-based “Mod” and youth fashion movements.
Twiggy in a Quant design, 1966
Quant was also responsible for hot pants, the Lolita look, the slip dress, PVC raincoats, smoky eyes and sleek bob haircuts, but it was make-up that eventually made her company the most money.
I remember those days. My dual personality loved Twiggy and collected pictures of her. (She was in the second grade.) We thought it was all pretty cool: Carnaby Street,
Jean Shrimpton,
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,
the Rolling Stones,
Herman’s Hermits!
Living in flyover country, the hip new fashions were slow in catching on, but eventually skirts got shorter, hair got longer and girls started wearing Yardley make-up.
I still have some of these iconic tubes somewhere!
Needless to say, We were oblivious to the darker elements of the mid-sixties. I think we thought, if it’s British, how bad can it be?
Anyone in the mood for Austin Powers?
Yeah, baby–me neither. And happy birthday to Mary Quant!
*Woke up this morning feelin’ fine/There’s something special on my mind/Last night I met a new girl in the neighborhood, whoa yeah/Something tells me I’m into something good (Herman’s Hermits, 1965)
dual personalities 
Oh, my. That brings back memories…love the Yardley lipstick!
I love to bring back memories!
Those were the days, my friend (except for that awful stuff going on in Vietnam, of course)!
I think there was a popular song to that effect sung by Mary Hopkin (on Apple Records) around that time!
I remember loving that song — Mother bought a 45 for me. I probably still have it.
“Those were the days, my friend…I thought they’d never end!”. Sad to say, alas, they did end but left a lot of great memories for us.
I always learn so much on your blog! And you definitely had Yardley lipsticks because I definitely wanted to steal them as a young girl…
Whoa! Blast from the past. That orange and pink Yardley lipstick….I can’t remember if it was mine or my sister’s but thought it was SO cool that I never wanted to use it. Sort of like keeping pointy crayons perfect thing. Also, never to be forgotten…. Love’s Lemon Everything. The scent would drive Chucko wild.
“Wear your Love like heaven”