Quant and Sassoon in Swinging London: Literally MAKING the Scene

01/21/23 • 89 min

In our last episode we questioned how, in a few short years, London transformed itself from a battered, austere, post-war city to the vibrant, swinging “Capital of Cool.”

So, here we are, in 1960s London, and we’ll meet scene-makers and movers and shakers, fashion designer Mary Quant and hair stylist Vidal Sassoon.

Jump in your Mini, and join us as we explore:

MARY QUANT >

Her dive and subsequent splash onto the fashion scene as early as 1955
the innovative marketing techniques she employed
her willingness to experiment with synthetic materials never before used in the industry
the head-to-toe looks that were revolutionary for the time
the celebratory vibe of both her garments and her shows
her uncanny ability to anticipate the next big thing
and of course - the iconic miniskirt

VIDAL SASSOON >

His young life in tenements, an orphanage, and as a young war refugee
The prophetic vision of his mother
His lifelong interactions with antisemitism
Mentors: those that guided him, and those that he rebelled against
His influences
The freeing of women via wash and go hair
Celebrity customers and muses
His kinship with Mary Quant as they create what becomes Swinging London, and
What happened next...

Photos, sources, and recipes can be found in our show notes HERE.

In our last episode we questioned how, in a few short years, London transformed itself from a battered, austere, post-war city to the vibrant, swinging “Capital of Cool.”

So, here we are, in 1960s London, and we’ll meet scene-makers and movers and shakers, fashion designer Mary Quant and hair stylist Vidal Sassoon.

Jump in your Mini, and join us as we explore:

MARY QUANT >

Her dive and subsequent splash onto the fashion scene as early as 1955
the innovative marketing techniques she employed
her willingness to experiment with synthetic materials never before used in the industry
the head-to-toe looks that were revolutionary for the time
the celebratory vibe of both her garments and her shows
her uncanny ability to anticipate the next big thing
and of course - the iconic miniskirt

VIDAL SASSOON >

His young life in tenements, an orphanage, and as a young war refugee
The prophetic vision of his mother
His lifelong interactions with antisemitism
Mentors: those that guided him, and those that he rebelled against
His influences
The freeing of women via wash and go hair
Celebrity customers and muses
His kinship with Mary Quant as they create what becomes Swinging London, and
What happened next...

Photos, sources, and recipes can be found in our show notes HERE.

Previous Episode

London Emerges Swinging

London. The 1960s. The “Capital of Cool”.
London was indeed swinging. But how? Why?
Join us, as we inquire and explore:
- how London emerged from war torn chaos, soot, deadly fog, and rations into a vibrant and vivacious style epicenter by the mid 1960s
- the trends that dominated the era
- how the baby boom and subsequent youth culture movement rocked British life at its core
1940s London was battered and bruised, but the city came back swinging in just under two decades. Come along with us as we look at the path that paved the way for such astonishing change.
Photos, sources, and recipes can be found in our show notes HERE.

Next Episode

The Detection Club: Dark Rituals in a Golden Age PLUS Agatha's London

Can a city be a muse? What about London inspires writers of detective mysteries?
In this episode, we'll:

delve into the Golden Age of the Detective Novel in interwar London.
meet some of the top authors of the era in a secretive, ritualistic organization they founded. Enter the Detection Club.
follow Agatha Christie's footsteps through London, where she spent some pivotal moments of her life
celebrate the long-running The Mousetrap, a play that has become a London institution and has been making interesting headlines within the last year.

Photos, sources, and recipes can be found in our show notes HERE.