Daisy

Mary Quant’s Daisy fashion doll wears (left to right): St. Tropez, frilly, flowered separates with shirred top; Marrakesh, daisy print djellaba with contrast yellow panel; Smarty, neat navy-and-white spot day dress.

The Daisy doll was released in the UK in 1973, by Mary Quant, one of Britain’s leading fashion designers and inventor of the mini skirt and hot pants. Marketed as ‘Mary Quant makes Daisy the best dressed doll in the world’, the 9 inch tall doll used Mary Quant’s signature daisy logo. Daisy was manufactured in Hong Kong by Model Toys Ltd for Flair Toys Ltd. There are three different versions of the doll: Dizzy Daisy, who has a stiff body and unbendable legs, and is jointed just at hips and shoulders, a later version with bendable legs, and an active version called Dashing Daisy. The doll’s hair color was in many shades of blonde as well as brunette and red.

Daisy’s outfits were cutting edge 70s design. Fabrics included satin, for long evening dresses and flared pants, stretch jersey nylon/polyester for T-Shirts, fake ‘fun fur’ for jackets and matching hats, and denim for jeans, waistcoats, hats, skirts and a trendy jumpsuit. Cotton was widely used, for long gypsy dresses, blouses, tabards, and mini dresses. Patterns were of the moment, featuring graphic shapes, flowers, stripes, and polka dots. Footwear was just as fashionable – with platform clogs and sandals in every color, and Go-Go Boots with the Quant daisy on the side.

Daisy had her own fold up country cottage, printed inside with windows and wallpaper and outside with stone walls, windows and greenery. The furniture was resolutely 1970s – the kitchen table and chairs were based on the Eero Saarinen ‘Tulip’ design.

Every year a new fashion booklet was issued, showing the latest fashions. Each booklet had a theme; 1973’s was ‘My Fashion Diary’. In 1974 it was ‘My Round The World Holiday’, later issues included, ‘My Exiting Life As A reporter’, ‘I’m Having Fun As A Travel Courier’, and ‘My Glamorous Life As A Ballerina’.