In the 60s, the sexual revolution was born. 1960 saw the introduction of the birth control pill, 1962 saw the emergence of feminist Helen Gurley Brown and her book, Sex and the Single Girl. And from Carnaby Street in London, a fashion both shocking and liberating, the iconic mini skirt.

Up until then, fashions had always remained relatively conservative for women. Sure, there was the occasional uproar, such as in the 20s, when someone dared show a little knee. But it wasn’t until a designer named Mary Quant opened a little shop in London with her husband called Bazaar in 1955 that a dent was finally made in conservative fashion. With the help of designer Andre Courreges, she introduced the mini skirt, a dress far more revealing than anything that proceeded it. And there was no looking back.

In a world where women finally felt comfortable talking about their sexuality, the mini skirt gave them the ability to flaunt it. No longer did they feel the need to cover up every inch of skin. Some were understandably outraged, some were appalled but it mattered little. Women had spoken and stood united in their support of the new fashion, one that allowed them to finally, and confidently, expose their sensuality for all the world to see. The days of men being expected to provide for and protect the innocent female were fading fast and the new woman proved that she could call the shots.

And in decades since, the mini skirt has always remained a popular wardrobe staple. In the 80s, Madonna incorporated the skirt into her bold fashion statements, with black lycra version of the iconic skirt, paired with mesh shirts that exposed her naval and lacy tights. By comparison, it made the 60s version seem pretty conservative in and of itself. In the 90s, Heather Locklear would take things further with an ultra-short version that she commonly wore on Melrose Place. Calista Flockhart followed suit on Ally McBeal, and viewers found themselves more preoccupied with the look than any storyline that was offered.

Some folks eventually longed for the days of the mini skirt of the 60s, which seemed pretty tame comparatively but one thing was for sure, the mini skirt proved a longevity that few could have anticipated. The mini skirt was a flag of sorts for the sexual revolution and once that door was opened, the world of fashion would never be the same.