Few figures embody the revolutionary spirit of Swinging London quite like Dame Mary Quant, the trailblazing designer who redefined fashion in the 1960s.
Famed for inventing the miniskirt, Quant not only transformed the way women dressed but also left an enduring cultural legacy – intertwined with royalty.
Now, to mark the 60th anniversary of her most iconic creation, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is paying tribute to the designer, bringing together style, history and high society in a unique celebration.
Set against the backdrop of London Fashion Week, the five-star hotel’s exhibition features one of her original dresses, offering a nostalgic glimpse into British fashion.
Guests can sip on The Modette, a bespoke cocktail crafted in homage to the designer, while admiring a stunning floral installation by Moyses Stevens, echoing the patterns and hues of Quant’s work.
Mary Quant moved in the same circles as royalty and rockstars, her kohl-lined eyes and Vidal Sassoon bob making her as much a part of the scene as the Beatles, whom she partied with.
Bazaar, her King’s Road boutique, became a hub for the elite – so much so that Alexander’s, the restaurant beneath it owned by her husband, played host to Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. Buckingham Palace staff were also rumoured to have celebrated New Year’s Eve there.
Quant’s ties to the Royal Family were as fascinating as they were unconventional.
Few figures embody the revolutionary spirit of Swinging London quite like Dame Mary Quant, the trailblazing designer who redefined fashion in the 1960s
To mark the 60th anniversary of Mary Quant’s most iconic creation, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is paying tribute to the designer, bringing together style, history and high society in a unique celebration
Her friend Lord Snowdon, the celebrated photographer and husband of Princess Margaret, once captured her in a glossy PVC raincoat, sparking royal jealousy.
Margaret was reportedly convinced the two were having an affair, calling her husband ‘every five minutes’ during his photoshoot with the designer.
In her memoir, Mary Quant: My Autobiography, she reflected on the fitting wedding gift her husband, Alexander Plunket Greene, had given the royal couple – a pair of duelling pistols.
Decades later, Quant’s path would cross with another iconic royal figure: Princess Diana.
In a secretive meeting just four months before Diana’s tragic death, Quant was one of five women invited by Shirley Conran to advise the princess on her future after divorcing Prince Charles.
During their candid discussion at Le Caprice in London, the group was struck by the depth of Diana’s predicament.
‘Of course, before meeting Diana, we’d all realised what an impossible position she was in – but it was only after listening to her that we discovered it was actually disastrous,’ Quant pens in her book.
‘She was trapped, she told us. She could never take another husband or she would lose her children.
Lord Snowdon, chairman of the Council of Industrial Design, shows Mary Quant, one of the judges, a miniature working model of a miners lamp – one of 166 items selected as winners of the Investiture Souvenir Competition
Princess Margaret was reportedly convinced her husband, Lord Snowdon, was having an affair with Mary Quant, calling her him ‘every five minutes’ during their photo shoot
Mary Quant launches her footwear collection Quant Afoot at the Carlton Tower Hotel in August 1967
Quant has her signature hairstyle trimmed by hairdresser and friend Vidal Sassoon in November 1964
Mary Quant pictured with her husband Alexander Plunket Green. The pair were married from 1957 to 1990
Twiggy is snapped by photographers as she models a Mary Quant fringed mini dress in 1968
Mary Quant leaves Heathrow Airport for Amsterdam to judge a mini-skirt (which she is famed for having invented) contest
Bazaar, Mary Quant’s King’s Road boutique, became a hub for the elite – so much so that Alexander’s, the restaurant beneath it owned by her husband, played host to Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly
‘Any man in the world would happily have lunch with her, but none would dare launch into a full public affair. It would be tantamount to treason.
‘Furthermore, the state would ensure the safety of her children only at the royal palaces, and would not allow them to live anywhere else.’
Even as she considered new career paths – one as a roving goodwill ambassador, another as a TV filmmaker – Diana’s situation remained precarious.
Reflecting on the meeting, Quant later wrote: ‘Five wise women went home wiser.’
Mary Quant received numerous accolades throughout her life.
She became the first recipient of the Dress of the Year award in 1963 and was later included in the Royal Mail’s British Design Classics postage stamp collection in 2009 for her mini-skirt design.
In 1966, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during the Birthday Honours, where she famously accepted the award wearing a cream wool mini dress she designed herself.
In the 2015 New Year Honours List, Quant was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to fashion, saying at the time it was ‘the girls on King’s Road who invented the mini. I wore them very short and the customers would say, “shorter, shorter”.’
In 2023, she was named in King Charles‘ first New Year’s Honours List, receiving the prestigious Companion of Honour award, given to those who have made a long-standing contribution to arts, science, medicine or government.
Mary Quant died peacefully at her Surrey home, aged 93, in April 2023.
Alexander Plunkett Greene and Mary Quant pictured outside Bazaar in 1964
Mary arranges a mannequin in the window display of her shop on King’s Road
Mary Quant launched her first range of neckwear, for both men and women, at the Savoy Hotel in 1972. She is pictured with her husband Alexander
In 1966, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) during the Birthday Honours, where she accepted the award wearing a cream wool mini dress
In 2023, Quant was named in King Charles’ first New Year’s Honours List, receiving the prestigious Companion of Honour award
Blending royalty with culinary artistry, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is offering a refined afternoon tea inspired by Highgrove House and Gardens, the private Gloucestershire residence of King Charles III
Blending royalty with culinary artistry, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is offering an afternoon tea inspired by Highgrove House and Gardens, the private Gloucestershire residence of King Charles.
To ensure authenticity, the team visited the estate to explore its ingredients, discover its history and understand its guiding principles.
The result is a botanically inspired, seasonal offering that celebrates sustainability while showcasing the finest British produce.
A standout feature is the scone experience, offering an assortment of miniature bakes in various flavours, accompanied by traditional condiments, such as clotted cream, raspberry jam and chocolate spread.
The afternoon tea concludes with a selection of cakes, elegantly presented in a birdcage.
Among them are three royal-inspired delights: a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding cake, Charles’ favourite fruit cake and Queen Victoria’s beloved sponge.
