Fashion Designer. She was born Jessie Earle Gagnon, and took the surname of her second husband as her professional name. After purchasing the label Gunne Sax for $10,000, she brought it to worldwide prominence. Her prairie-style special occasion dresses in calico and lace were best-sellers for young women in the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond. She had no formal dressmaker training, but learned from her grandmother as a girl. Her obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle noted, "Initially, the company focused on calico prints and long flowing, prairie style dresses. Jessica immersed herself in the business, adding her artistic and creative imprint, with a more Edwardian and Renaissance look to the collection. Muslin and lace were design tools. Ivory and soft blush colors were her palette. With naturalness being all the rage in San Francisco, the race was on and Gunne Sax sales exploded. The lace-up front, bodice dresses allowed women to be demure in public and uninhibited when desired." In the late 1980s and 1990s, Jessica's designs evolved into silk and lace creations, with more sophisticated silhouettes. Her wedding gown line became a best-seller. At its height, her fashion empire brought in over $100 million annually. By 1997 Jessica McClintock ranked seventh on the Women's Wear Daily Top 100 most recognized brands, just behind powerhouse brands Cartier and Tiffany. Eventually, her company concentrated on licensing, and branched out into jewelry, eyeglasses, perfume, and other products. After her retirement, she concentrated on philanthropy. In 2018, Jessica and her son created a private family environmental foundation to support global environmental causes, The Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation.
Fashion Designer. She was born Jessie Earle Gagnon, and took the surname of her second husband as her professional name. After purchasing the label Gunne Sax for $10,000, she brought it to worldwide prominence. Her prairie-style special occasion dresses in calico and lace were best-sellers for young women in the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond. She had no formal dressmaker training, but learned from her grandmother as a girl. Her obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle noted, "Initially, the company focused on calico prints and long flowing, prairie style dresses. Jessica immersed herself in the business, adding her artistic and creative imprint, with a more Edwardian and Renaissance look to the collection. Muslin and lace were design tools. Ivory and soft blush colors were her palette. With naturalness being all the rage in San Francisco, the race was on and Gunne Sax sales exploded. The lace-up front, bodice dresses allowed women to be demure in public and uninhibited when desired." In the late 1980s and 1990s, Jessica's designs evolved into silk and lace creations, with more sophisticated silhouettes. Her wedding gown line became a best-seller. At its height, her fashion empire brought in over $100 million annually. By 1997 Jessica McClintock ranked seventh on the Women's Wear Daily Top 100 most recognized brands, just behind powerhouse brands Cartier and Tiffany. Eventually, her company concentrated on licensing, and branched out into jewelry, eyeglasses, perfume, and other products. After her retirement, she concentrated on philanthropy. In 2018, Jessica and her son created a private family environmental foundation to support global environmental causes, The Scott and Jessica McClintock Foundation.
Bio by: HWA
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