Student fashion at the Glasgow School of Art
Miniskirts and hot pants, 15 years before their time
Chris Wild
1953
Glasgow School of Art is situated in Scotland in a building designed by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The school offers university-level courses in fine art, architecture and design, including textile and fashion studies. The school's building demonstrates Mackintosh's groundbreaking architectural design.In 1953 the British magazine Picture Post featured the school's annual charity fashion show. Students wore their own creations, posing in the school and on the streets, where they collected money to be distributed among various local charities.
As well as conventional daywear designs and ballgowns, students showed some innovative designs. One student's miniskirt predated major designers by at least 10 years. Many credit French fashion designer André Courrèges with the invention of the miniskirt; he featured it as part of his "Space Age" collection in 1964. British designer Mary Quant unveiled her short skirt that same year, reportedly naming it the "Miniskirt" after her favourite car, the Mini. Another Glasgow School of Art student wears a tartan suit that incorporates shorts. This was also ahead of its time by at least 15 years. (Mary Quant developed a style of shorts as street wear in the late 1960s with the name "Hot Pants.")
