Mad Men Costume Designer Janie Bryant Talks With Us About Her New QVC Collection

You’ve probably heard of costume designer Janie Bryant. Not only has she won awards for her work on our favorite sartorial series, Mad Men, and the under-appreciated Deadwood, but she’s also about to release a personal style guide.

Now the costumer is stepping out of her (assumed) comfort zone and into ready-to-wear with a collection for QVC. Janie Bryant Mod is, unsurprisingly, 1960s-inspired. We chatted with the Los Angeles-based designer to get an idea of what’s in store.

There’s lots of animal prints in this collection–were you just feeling that for fall, or was that specific to the QVC customer?

I think animal prints are going to be very strong for fall overall and that the QVC customer will love them. They’re fun, fresh and bold.

I’m assuming you did a couple of dresses. Let’s talk about them!

This first collection for fall is key statement pieces…faux fur jackets, faux fur capelets, jewelry,cardigans, jewelry, and a great handbag. Watch for some dresses for spring and summer.

I’ll be anxiously waiting! Obviously the collection is inspired by the 1960s. Do you wear a ton of vintage yourself–how would you describe your personal look? I love vintage…of course…I think it is great to mix a fantastic vintage piece with modern contemporary clothes for a unique style of my own.

A sketch--done by famed illustrator Robert Best--of one of the bags from Janie's new book.

It feels like, over the last ten years or so, people have started to care more about how they look on a day-to-day basis. Do you agree with that? Is the collection a reflection of that?

It is great that people are caring more about how they look everyday. That’s a reflection of the image they want to project and how they feel about themselves. I want women to have fun with this collection. To experiment with a few key pieces that can transform the whole look and reflect who they want to be that day or night!



I’m getting married and wearing a custom dress that is very 1960s. Do you get requests from people to do custom work all the time?

YES! I do get requests all the time for custom design.



Have you thought about making that into a separate business?

Maybe one day, but now I’m focusing on my QVC collection.