After studying fashion design, moving to Paris for design and then New York, where she got involved in the TV and film industry, Bryant then moved to Los Angeles to follow her passion of continuing her career as a Hollywood Costume Designer.
Along with her critically acclaimed and prestigiously awarded costumes, Janie has designed a twelve-piece collection of dresses and separates for US based brand ‘Unique Vintage,’ which was inspired by actual 1950s vintage pieces – many from Bryant’s personal collection. The vintage-inspired designs adhere to the structured fashion of the era, with both wiggle and swing silhouettes that accentuate the classic feminine hourglass shape and boast unique, delicate details from scalloped pearl necklines, to dotted mesh overlays. We caught up with Janie to find out about her love for vintage and this new collection.
What were you most excited for when you found out you were going to design your new collection?
I was most excited about designing a 1950s inspired collection. I love the silhouettes, shapes, details and colours of the decade; Unique Vintage is an amazing partner in this effort. Katie, the CEO, and I hit it off right away with our shared passion of vintage clothing and the 50s!
Where did you get the inspiration for your designs? Is any particular era your favourite?
My inspiration came from some of my own personal favourite 1950s vintage pieces. I love the red and black velvet halter swing dress, as the shade of red is perfection and the fits are so flattering to the body. It is a great dress for special occasions too.
Who would you love to see wear the collection and why?
Of course, I would love to see the cast of all the Mad Men ladies in my collection.
Our readers know you best for your work on Mad Men. What was your favourite thing about working on the show?
Costume design is all about the transformation from actor into character. With Mad Men being set from 1960-1970, it was so important to create an entire world and for the audience and actors to be transported back in time. It really is like magic. I’m truly passionate about seeing characters come to life through costume design. I love that the fans were so excited and engaged with the costume design of the show for each episode.
What advice can you give to aspiring designers?
I think the most important thing is to be true to yourself, believe in your dreams, and never give up on your passions.
What has been the biggest success so far?
Mad Men has definitely been my biggest success design wise. The costume design affected fashion for men and women on an international level. I loved working on The MadMen Collections at Banana Republic and now this capsule with Unique Vintage will enable me to continue to bring my designs to fans of the show.
Janie can be found on instagram and twitter @janiebryant
