Story

I came up with the idea for the Juniper Dress several years ago, back before Margu even existed, when I took a sleeveless button-front pattern block I had created and made it dress-length. I wasn't that crazy about it right after I made it, but after a few months I realized that simple shirtdress had become the most-worn thing in my entire closet.

The Juniper is a re-imagining of that fabled dress — or, more accurately, me taking the idea for that dress and making it even better by adding a full lining, changing the gathered back to a knife-pleated back, adding bust darts for shaping, making it a tad bit longer, and (most importantly) adding not one but two pairs of pockets, one on the bust and another hidden in the side seams. This dress is flowy but not entirely unstructured, trapeze-y but not tent-like, and works wonders with a pair of booties and a denim jacket.

Design Details

• Main fabric: 100% organic cotton
• Lining fabric: 100% organic cotton
• Designed, cut, and sewn in Arkansas, USA
• Flowy trapeze silhouette
• Fully lined
• Full button front closure
• Subtle high-low hem
• Six knife pleats below back yoke
• Two front patch pockets, bust darts for shaping
• Hidden side seam pockets for your hands or your stuff
• Measures 34" inches long from shoulder
• Hand wash cold, line dry, warm iron as needed (learn more about garment care here)

Materials

This dress is made of 100% organic cotton double gauze. Double gauze is one of my all-time favorite materials; it's composed of two layers of gauze that have been tacked together, creating an unbelievably soft, breathable, yet opaque fabric. Double gauze is light and airy and is one of those fabrics that, like linen, is wrinkle-prone (even freshly pressed, you're still going to have a garment that looks lived-in, such as in the product photos), but that's part of what makes the fabric so great to those who love it — it's soft and rumpled and worn in, like a cozy old blanket.

This particular double gauze is a shade of purplish misty gray with small white polka dots scattered throughout. The color pairs well with white, navy, and our Aegean Twill fabric.

The dress is lined with 100% organic cotton double gauze, produced in India, that I have hand-dyed a shade of light grey using fiber-reactive dyes. It is somehow even softer and flowier than the outer layer of double gauze.

In addition to the fabric, this style uses 100% organic cotton thread, nine vintage mother-of-pearl buttons, and organic cotton labels.

Fit

Take a look at our Size Guide to find your size.

The Juniper is most fitted in the bust, so use your bust measurement when determining your size. This style is pretty loose and flowy, so you have a bit of leeway with size. If your bust measurement falls in between sizes, or if you just want a dress that's extra boxy and drapey, I recommend sizing up.

Alyssa is wearing a size Small and is 5'8" with a 35" bust, 26" waist, and 37" hip.