Gunne Sax was a small dress manufacturing company in San Francisco, started in 1967 by Elle Bailey and Carol Miller. In 1969 Jessica McClintock (June 19, 1930-February 16, 2021) invested in the company and became the designer. She bought the company that same year. The company became known for their nostalgic “granny dresses” and soon the look expanded into prairie dresses and Victorian and Edwardian inspired designs in the 1970s and into the early 1980s.
In the 1980s Jessica added Southern Belle dresses and twenties-inspired dresses. Gunne Sax was a junior line and in the 1980s McClintock added a misses line, Scott McClintock, and a more expensive upscale line, Jessica McClintock.
By the end of the 1980s, Gunne Sax became mainly a company that made prom and party dresses that were influenced by the trends of the day. The company is now called Jessica McClintock, Inc.
Written by fuzzylizzie
See vintage Gunne Sax from VFG members on Etsy (paid link)
The earliest Gunne Sax label 1969
Courtesy of specialsomethings
from a 1969 or early 1970s dress (hangtag)
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from a 1969 or early 1970s dress
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from a 1969 or early 1970s dress
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from an early 1970s dress
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from a 1970s blouse (hangtag)
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from an early 1970s blouse
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from an early 1970s dress
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from a 1970s dress
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from a 1970s dress
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from a 1970s dress
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from a 1970s lace jacket
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from a late 1970s dress
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from a 1980s dress
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from a 1980s dress
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from a 1980s dress
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from a 1980s wedding dress
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from a 1980s dress
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from a mid 1980s knit dress
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from an early 1990s wedding dress
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from a 1990s dress
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