The mini skirt’s origins can be traced to London fashion designer Mary Quant (at the photo). The mini skirt would maintain popularity until the mid-1970’s when pants became more fashionable for women. But… why was it such an instant success? Think about the attitude of this new generation - youth was everything, the Who were singing they hoped they’d die before they got old, and the older generation just didn’t get it, man. The mini skirt became a symbol of this exalted youth since you basically had to be youthful to get away with wearing it, and it was a bit controversial too.