Gunne sax dresses

The name "Gunne Sax" was associated with the label's roots in prairie, Victorian, and Edwardian-styled designs which drew on many elements popular in lateth and earlyth-century American fashion gunne sax dresses as laceginghamand calico. Gunne Sax also manufactured renaissance - and medieval -inspired designs, with empire waistlines and center placketsand used other historical costume elements such as corset -like laced bodices and puffed sleeves that tightened below the elbow, a style popular throughout the s and s known as "leg o'mutton. From the s onward, Gunne Sax dresses tended to follow modern prom dress sensibilities, such as tight, gunne sax dresses, strapless bodices and full skirtsfavoring fabrics like satintaffetaand tulle.

Hi, my name is Emily, and I am addicted to Gunne Sax dresses. These dresses somehow capture the inexplicable romance of the medieval, Renaissance, prairie, Edwardian, and antebellum periods — all mixed into one brand of dress. There is a mix of innocence, sex appeal, beauty, and femininity — and each dress containing different proportions of each. In my collection of over dresses I rationalize this by the fact that the majority are currently or will be for sale at the Hello Vintage store , no two are alike, yet each dress captures the same fantastical spirit. In , Jessica McClintock bought out the label and began creating her own designs. In my short stint as a vintage clothing store owner, I have heard dozens of women reminisce on their trips to the Gunne Sax outlet in San Francisco.

Gunne sax dresses

To those who know the ways of thrift, Gunne Sax is most likely a household name. Some sellers dedicate their entire livelihoods picking these specific pieces, and finding one in a donation bin is nigh impossible these days because of it. But why? What about these dresses has gained so much notoriety? How have they remained in popular culture for so long, and what makes a Gunne Sax dress quintessentially Gunne Sax? The first Gunne Sax dresses were made in by two very dedicated women. The first was Elle Bailey , who worked in California at the time. She graduated from the Vogue School of Design in Chicago some years before and loved to help novice dressmakers on their path. The second, Carol Miller, was at the time a student of design at Chabot College. These two women crossed paths by accident after being invited to the career fair at their local high school. One day over lunch together between the two of them, the idea for Gunne Sax was born. These dresses took inspiration from all sorts of different fashion eras, from the Victorian to the Baroque. Lace trims, flowery patterns and flowy skirts were the name of the game, and Elle and Carol were star players. The business really took off in when a major label offered to buy the brand from them.

So you may find your dream dress in your dream size with a bit of luck. I have a vivid although possibly warped memory of watching a VHS copy of the Camelot from gunne sax dresses local childhood library. Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

In preparation for writing this piece, my mom mailed me those two dresses. I assumed my since-honed pop culture analysis skills would allow me some critical distance from the pieces. But as I unboxed them, I felt the same immense joy I remember as a kid. Both are classic Gunne Sax style: floral prints trimmed in lace and ribbon, empire waists, shoelace ties at the bust. One however, represents the more medieval, Renaissance fantasy style, pastel blue and airy with sheer puffy sleeves and A-line skirt. The other is very much the prairie aesthetic, all burnt orange and dark blue, with thick straps and a dense, heavy skirt that reaches the floor — certainly a fall look. Of course, with the cottagecore trend at its height in a stressful, post world , I could wear these dresses to an event without them standing out much at all.

Gunne Sax's aesthetic has been described as feminine, nostalgic, Victorian, old world and romantic. Though the brand is now closely associated with formal and bridal wear, its origins date back to late '60s San Francisco. In , San Francisco boutique Gunne Sax needed a house designer. Enter Jessica McClintock, an elementary school teacher with a life-long interest in fashion. When a friend told McClintock of the opening at Gunne Sax, she applied immediately. In a testament to the freewheeling spirit of s San Francisco, McClintock was hired despite her lack of formal training in fashion design or clothing manufacture. In the beginning, McClintock designed small collections of about 20 garments. Within a few months the San Francisco department store I.

Gunne sax dresses

And how. Victoriana has been making the rounds of late. When office colleagues talk of Gunnes, they speak of graduations and weddings and proms. In the Gunne Sax label became a junior line and the designer cornered the occasion-dress market under her own name, Jessica McClintock, building an empire worth many tens of millions of dollars. She communicated those qualities by incorporating Victorian, Edwardian, and medieval touches into her designs, while also popularizing a very Laura Ingalls Wilder—style prairie look that suited the time. They used to wear them in the parks, getting married—the long calico dresses, barefoot and all. The storybook, even fairy-tale quality of GS dresses is undeniable and has contributed to their popularity not only stateside but in Japan. With its frills and furbelows, Gunne Sax is a perfect fit for this style, a deliberately saccharine one built around Western vintage pieces. Inspired by porcelain dolls, the Dolly kei style incorporates gothic, Lolita, and mori kei forest girl elements, as well. At the end of what was, for many, an annus horribilis, the escapist fantasy aspect of Gunne Sax dresses resonates and makes them look fresh, not frumpy.

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Part of that has always been playing with elements of dress-up: buying a pair of Steve Madden vinyl cowboy boots to mix with a fitted sweater dress; a full A-line skirt that would fit in a scene from Mad Men ; sunflower patterned crop-top to recall 90s fashions I was too young and too self-conscious to wear at the time. But, in the safety of home, I could play around with the vintage clothing I found so beautiful and romantic, and for a moment feel that for myself. Color Black Black Burgundy Burgundy. Loading Comments Aug 31, These two women crossed paths by accident after being invited to the career fair at their local high school. I have a vivid although possibly warped memory of watching a VHS copy of the Camelot from my local childhood library. But as I unboxed them, I felt the same immense joy I remember as a kid. Continue reading. They are those things but also wearable, and now, even fashionable pieces.

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Fantasy Dress. We are happy to rush orders and we recommend you add the priority shipping DHL at the check-out page. Moving the brand forward, she kept a lot of the same inspirations as Ella and Carol did — adding in corsetry and renaissance flairs. The Love Witch also stands out for its 60s-inspired costumes, design, and even acting style. Custom Made. Load More Stories. For expedited service, we could try to prioritize your order. There is a mix of innocence, sex appeal, beauty, and femininity — and each dress containing different proportions of each. The second, Carol Miller, was at the time a student of design at Chabot College. More in Education Perfect dresses to wear to the wooded areas around my neighborhood for a dreamy photoshoot. My two Gunne Sax dresses, then, became not only symbols of fantasy and play, but also an escape from the trauma of my high school years, spending most of my time in hospitals and at home.