Muir

Jean (1928-1995). English designer. She was known for her fluid and feminine silhouettes, and a preference for jersey and suede which took traditional workmanship to the next level. Born in London, she rose through the ranks and learned her trade on the job. She was taken on by Liberty in 1950 as a warehouse assistant, promoted to store cashier, and finally to designer. She was then taken on by Jaeger, where she remained from 1956 to 1961, the year in which she set up her own label, Jane & Jane. She founded her business in 1966, by which time her pure, classic style had already been established. Her clothes were known for their carefully worked detail, and striking, almost always uniform color. Her sense of elegance combined with a guaranteed comfort ensured that her collections appealed to the most refined ladies. In 1980 Leeds City Art Gallery published the monograph Jean Muir.