The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2024 - Issue 36

bitebookreview A s someone who knew nothing about beauty and make-up despite having an elder sister but a lot about buses, Quincy Mic Connell became accustomed to the indus- try when he drove the initial red and then the bright yellow Mary Quant Beauty Bus across Europe, Canada and America. Born and bred in London, Mic, as he was known, spent his youth playing around in his fa- ther’s coach station, where he learnt how to drive buses at an incredibly early age, sitting on his father’s knee. His captivating memoir Surrounded By Beauty chronicles the incredible journey of the Mary Quant Beauty Bus that distributed 25,000 make-up worldwide and transformed women into their most attractive selves. Filled with letters, press cuttings, progress reports and personal journals he rediscov- ered fifty years later; the author shares his and his colleagues’ experiences, adventures and challenges while promoting and spread- ing the influences of Mary Quant’s revolu- tionary beauty products. In the opening chapter, Connell honours Mary Quant, the pioneering fashion de- signer who became an iconic figure in the 1960s London-based mod and youth fashion movements, who died last year. “In 2019, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London held an exhibition of Mary Quant’s designs which were described as having revolution- ised fashion, harnessing youth, street style and mass production to create a fresh look for women, defining the Swinging Sixties.” Quant is credited with inventing hot pants, popularising tights, mini skirts, and trousers for women. “From her original shop, Bazaar on the King’s Road in Chelsea, her brand embodied a new post-war generation’s attitude to life and fashion, bringing an energy and fun to shopping. The story of how she came to do this is explained in her autobiography, Quant by Quant (published by the V&A Museum).” With cosmetics still dwelling in the 1940s, Quant created a new range to match her fashion designs. Each subsequent chapter records the events in the cities Connell and the make-up team visited. He gives an insight into the team members, such as the feisty, young, and fashionable Italian interpreter Adrianna, the trendy and well-dressed international beauty consultant Stephen, the young and beautiful Carol, who only worked 5½ days a week, and the petite and energetic Janet Leigh, who travelled with him through the Rockies and the Prairies in Canada. The author reveals descriptive events such as the initial red bus catching fire in Greece with flames escaping from under the bonnet, igniting the curtains and melting the plastic workstations through the glassless windows. “Amazingly, the engine was still running,” he recalled. “In a remarkably brief time, the bonnet was too hot to open. The red paintwork had already turned black and was blistering. My puny fire extinguisher had soon run out. It had not made the slightest dent in the conflagration.” He gets excited when he encounters the multi-coloured ex-Brighton open-top double-decker that Paul McCartney and his group Wings used for their ‘Wings Over Europe’ tour ahead of them as they travel to St Maxim from Nice in France. “Well, what did you expect me to do? Of course, I did; I chased it,” he exclaimed. “For that small mo- ment in time, it must have been spectacular, seeing two English double-deckers racing flat out along the Promenade des Anglaise.” Connell’s engaging narrative offers a unique glimpse into the beauty and fashion worlds during that era. His humorous and heartfelt storytelling makes the reader feel like they are on the bus, experiencing the journey alongside him. It sometimes grips your emo- tions during challenging situations like the recurring issues with the bus or the author being abandoned by the other team mem- bers. Still, it brightens in the celebratory and triumphant moments. Throughout the book, you’ll notice Con- nell’s journey wasn’t about driving the bus and learning to apply and promote beauty products; it was a personal quest. The chal- lenges he faced are thoughtfully document- ed, showcasing his growth and resilience. Despite the setbacks, Connell maintains a light-hearted and humorous tone. His anecdotes are often laugh-out-loud funny, and his genuine warmth deeply touches the memoir. If you’re a fan of memoirs, travelogues, or the history of fashion and beauty, Surround- ed by Beauty, published by ShieldCrest Pub- lishing and available on Amazon and other online book retailers, is a must-read. Quincy Mic Connell’s storytelling is compelling and filled with triumphs and trials, making it a relatable and inspiring read. www.shieldcrest.co.uk/product/surrounded- by-beauty-by-quincy-mic-connell Surrounded by Beauty Book Review