Vintage 1970s Jean Muir Black Jersey Dress with Pink Stitching Size M L

This is a 1970s vintage dress designed by Jean Muir under her “Jean Muir London” label.  This dress is made of a black jersey, most likely viscose, a fabric often used by Muir.  Like most Muir designs, the dress has a comfortable fluidity to its form.  It features an interesting collar that can be worn with the ends pointed in or out - I’ve posed it both ways both in the full frontal photos and the close-up photos.  The dress has a V shaped neckline, raglan styled sleeves with turned cuffs in a contrasting light pink colour.  The collar, upper back, upper bodice, sleeves and hemline are all decorated with pink stitching.  There is a pocket built into either side seam. The dress has no closures, so simply fits over the head.  It is unlined and cut with a flare down to the hemline so that the skirt of the dress falls in drapes.  The fabric of the dress has good weight and falls beautifully, again, typical of Jean Muir, as the fall and movement of the garment was an important aspect of her designs.  There are three pieces that obviously were removed from the dress (see last two close-up photos).  I’m not sure where they were originally - perhaps meant to hang from the bodice, or maybe a belt.  There is a small seam opening on one side, so maybe the longer piece was a belt - that piece measures 35 1/2” in length while the other two pieces measure 11 1/2” in length.  In any case, their removal doesn’t affect the dress in any noticeable way.   

Jean Muir is considered one of Britain’s greatest fashion designers.  She studied fashion sketching at St Martin’s School of Art while working at Liberty, and went on to work at Jacqmar and then Jaeger.  After designing for the Jane & Jane label for four years, she started a label under her own name in 1966. (bio gleaned from the Vintage Fashion Guild).  

Label: Jean Muir London

Sizing: No size is indicated, but it is a medium to large size - please note the following measurements keeping in mind that the dress has to fit over the head:

Sleeves:  26 1/2” from the side neck seam, 29 1/2” long from the mid-neck seam

Bust: 42” around, approximate - difficult to ascertain due to the cape sleeves

Waist: 44” around

Hips:  47” around

Length: 44”, measured flat

Condition: It is in very good condition with the exception of the aforementioned loose pieces and the open side seam, which just needs a few stitches - I’m not stitching just in case you may wish to re-attach the belt piece.  Otherwise, this dress looks to have seen little use and was well stored over the years.

This is a wonderful example of Jean Muir design - easy to use and looks contemporary despite being about 45 years old….