While it doesn't quite rival Paris or New York, Edinburgh is a fashion capital in its own right, with a population of smartly-dressed people and plenty of trendy shops and boutiques. And this winter, it's also the setting for a tribute to a designer so revered that she was known as the "world's greatest dressmaker." Jean Muir: a Fashion Icon is on display at the National Museum of Scotland through March 15, 2009, chronicling her emergence on the fashion scene and subsequent success in the 1960's. The collection includes rare samples from her first label, Jane and Jane, where she developed her signature minimalist style, along with pieces from Jean Muir Ltd., which used signature fabrics, brighter colors, and more technically complex designs. And for those who'd like to try their own hand at fashion design, Muir's sketchbooks and original patterns show how her sophisticated outfits were able to leap from the page to the runway without missing a beat. While her dresses were decidedly high-style, they were designed for the ready-to-wear market, endearing her to a generation of women who had never before felt so free to dress fashionably. It doesn't get classier than that. The museum is a twenty minute walk from the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.
[image via National Museum of Scotland]
