Style Profile: "Mad Men" costume designer Janie Bryant

Talented costume designer Katherine Jane Bryant (left) goes by "Janie" and oversees the sartorial look of my favorite show, "Mad Men." She won an Emmy for her work on the dearly departed "Deadwood" and "Mad Men" just got nommed for 16 Emmys--the first episode  received a nod for costume design by John A. Dunn. The second season debuts tomorrow night and I already have a bottle of Scotch and a pack of Pall Malls ready to go. Bryant, a Tennessee native, is mad for good manners and well-dressed crowds. Here's the skinny on her personal style:

Amount of pressure a costume designer feels on Halloween: People always ask me, "What should I be for Halloween?" My stock answer: "Be creative and really, really scary." I ask you, what happened to being scary on Halloween?

I first played dress up with:  My grandmothers' closets. My Barbies, my friends, my baby sister Anna, and my cousin were all subjects of my visions!

Cinematic style icon: The ever so glamorous and sultry Norma Shearer.

Go-to outfit: Black Valentino buckled boots with
Swarovski crystals, J Brand skinny dark blue jeans,  majestic light gray henley style-shirt, 1970s vintage  leather jacket with leather appliques on the pockets, a pair of vintage sweetheart bracelets, and gold hoop earrings.

Favorite on-set experience: Would have to be on the set of"Deadwood."
It was season one and  was the first time the principal actors
and 150 background actors were together all  in period
costume! Definitely a moment of WOW!

Purse du jour: The Maison by Valentino in burgundy patent leather, gorgeous.

Men should never skimp on: Manners!

Women should always skimp on: Men with no manners!

Animal I most resemble: A Siamese cat.

Top three vintage stores in Los Angeles: Play Clothes (11839 Otsego St., Valley Village; [818] 752-6569), The Way We
Wore (334 S. La Brea Ave., L.A.; [323] 937-0878), and Golyester (136 S. La Brea Ave., L.A.; [323] 931-1339).

If I could makeover anyone, it would be: Middle America.

Memo to designers: Always be true to yourself.

Barneys Warehouse Sale or Fred Segal Sale: Barneys Warehouse Sale.

Worst fashion blunder: I'll have to go with panty lines or a fanny pack.

Right now, I am collecting: Positive thoughts.

My mother always told me: "You can do and have anything you want, you just have to put your mind to it" and "No use crying over spilled milk."

Makeup must-have: False eyelashes.

I dig fashion because: It's a way in which each one of us
can express ourselves. Fashion is outrageous, creative, beautiful,
opulent, minimal, whimsical, understated. Fashion is always evolving. It's everything.

I wish my nickname was: Zsa Zsa.

Photo credits: Janie Bryant, (her collection); Barbie doll, Smithsonian; Norma Shearer, Photoplay; bracelet, Marathon jewelry; "Deadwood," HBO; Siamese cat painting, Mimi Harvey; rainbow, Missouriskies.org; Zsa Zsa bust, lanscz.com

*This post originally ran last November, but I re-posted now that Mad Men has new fans and 16 Emmy nominations.

Comments

[Deborah Lipp]

A quick correction: Janie Bryant didn't get nominated for an Emmy for Mad Men, although she richly deserves one.

The pilot episode, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," got the nomination, naming John A. Dunn and Lisa Padovani. Ms. Bryant joined the series with episode #2.

[Monica]

Thanks D.
Correction made and I love your Mad Men website, "Basket of Kisses" -- M.

[Katie]

While I absolutley adore the work Bryant has done for "Mad Men," I was taken aback by her comment that Middle America needs a makeover. I have seen far more than my fair share of fashion don'ts here in Nebraska, but not everyone is fashion challenged. Just because our streets aren't lined with fashion houses doesn't mean everyone is stomping around in Crocs and ill-fitting mom jeans.

Thanks,
Katie
Lincoln, NE

[rachael weiss]

From the first moment I watched Madmen I knew it was a winner...My backround.......Garment Industry for decades......Family in Paris is in it as well....Designed and had my own labels by 22 years old.....It is a perfect show in dress and style not to mention Deadwood.....A true nod and respect to Ms . Bryant!!! I'll be watching your career and hoping you take an emmy or oscar.....Go girl! Best.....As always..Rachael Weiss

[Carr]

I have to echo Katie: I live in Chicago, Middle America, and there is plenty of good fashion. I thought this was kind of an ignorant thing for her to say: especially since she comes from Tennessee, and the South is ripe with unfair stereotypes. Middle America follows style, and better yet, we have our own sense of it, not solely relying on designers for inspiration, but able to find rare gems in many places.

[Nino Sutcliffe]

She may have received an Emmy for Deadwood and I dearly love her attention to detail in Mad Men but she gets a "D" for January Jones riding get up.
The riding hat is true to period.
The pants are glaringly 1980s. "Stretch" riding pants were not worn until the 1980s. The character should be in jodphurs. Look at any photo of Jackie Kennedy during that period.

[Nino Sutcliffe]

She may have received an Emmy for Deadwood and I dearly love her attention to detail in Mad Men but she gets a "D" for January Jones riding get up.
The riding hat is true to period.
The pants are glaringly 1980s. "Stretch" riding pants were not worn until the 1980s. The character should be in jodphurs. Look at any photo of Jackie Kennedy during that period.

[Gina MacDonald]

I was just visiting my 90 year old mother who had maintained a collection of clothing, hats, jewelry, etc. in a five bedroom plus garage house and told her Janie Bryant needs to come to her house to go through her collection for some of the clothing and hats she has from the 60's. she actually has from the 20's forward!. The owner of the Way We Wore has been to the house and purchased items. If Janie receives this message, she would find a treasure trove at ths home as Mom is now selling off her stuff.

[Lisa Simeone]

I think those of you who took offense are missing the point. "Middle America" does not mean middle of the country geographically.

It means middle-class middle-of-the-road T-shirts-and-shorts-and-sneakers generally slob-dressing typical Americans.

[Henry]

Talented costume designer Katherine Jane Bryant has done a wonderful job i guess the fashion and style is fully uploaded in the Costumes thanks for the article

[transparent laptop]

have to go to gradnight and i have to dress really nice i was thinking of a nice dress long enough to cover the ankles but it was to be vintage style or better yet rockabilly..know any vintage stores near west covina??