The peasant dress trend of the 1970s had one standout line that everyone wanted to wear and every maker wanted to be, and that was Gunne Sax by Jessica McClintock. Super romantic, with lace-up bodices and lace trimmed layers and ruffles, the prairie/peasant/granny gowns were touched with Victorian and Edwardian details. These early dresses, tops and skirts were everyday wear, not just for special occasions, and the fabrics from that era reflected that. Most were made from cotton calicos and solids and other small prints.
Jessica McClintock was a Maine girl who loved fashion design, inspired by her grandmother. She went off to Boston University in 1947 and married during college, but was widowed young in 1964. When her second marriage ended in a quick divorce, she and her son Scott moved to San Francisco. Per Vogue, in 1969, she invested $5000 (insurance money from her first husband’s death) with two women who owned a clothing company called Gunne Sax. She began designing, and in short order, she owned the company. Ms. McClintock passed away at the age of 90 in 2021.
Cool piece of trivia, also per Vogue, Hillary Rodham Clinton married Bill Clinton in a ready-to-wear Gunne Sax dress.
Blissfully, Gunne Sax dresses from the 1970s are not hard to find. The biggest challenge is deciding which one is the prettiest.
1970s Chambray Gunne Sax Maxi Dress
Why this is awesome: Lots of lace paired with everyday fabrics like chambray and, be still my heart, leg o’mutton sleeves.
Where I would wear this: Can’t you see this dress at a backyard bbq on a summer evening?
1970s Ivory Gunne Sax Dress
Why this is awesome: Lots of texture for visual interest in a simply ivory colored dress.
Where I would wear this: This dress needs to be worn on a day with no agenda, when you are simply larking about.
1970s Floral Print Gunne Sax Gown
Why this is awesome: Floral print and leg o’mutton sleeves. I am a sucker for leg o’mutton. And empire waists. Love those too.
How I would wear this: I would absolutely wear this to work on a day when I needed an extra lift to get through a hard project.
You don’t have to be a cottagecore fan to love these dresses. All you need is a romantic streak that likes to be indulged every once in a while.
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1 comment
Love these dresses! Gunne Sax was a go to for me back in the 70’s. Anything with a McClintock label is always lovely and romantic.