Celebrating the elegant world of Jean Muir

Published on Friday 7 November 2008 21:26

DURING her 40 years on the cutting edge of British fashion, Jean Muir's elegant creations adorned famous figures from Lauren Bacall to Joanna Lumley.

And yesterday, the exhibition Jean Muir: A Fashion Icon opened at the National Museum of Scotland, showing high- lights from a collection dating from 1966 until her death in 1995. It was gifted by her widower Harry Leuckert.

A printed leather jacket, brightly coloured felted coat and a sequinned black dress are among 30 garments on display, along with sketches, pattern pieces, and fabric samples to show her methods at work.

Muir's hallmark was the appearance of utter simplicity, although her designs were intricately constructed, and she called her work "engineering with cloth".

The exhibition curator, Kristina Stankovski, said: "We are thrilled to bring together this select exhibition from the unrivalled Jean Muir collection we hold here.

"Visitors will gain an insight into the ethos, craft and legacy of one of Britain's most celebrated fashion designers."

Photographs of leading models wearing Jean Muir designs also feature.

While Muir was born in London in 1928, her grandfather was Scottish and she was proud of her roots. Her knitwear collections were all created in Scotland from top-quality cashmere and lambswool.