– By Advertiser Staff –

Jean Bell was reading the Wall Street Journal and saw a story about Janie Bryant, the costume designer for the award winning show Mad Men, now in its sixth year.  It is, according to their words:” . . . the first basic cable series ever to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in four consecutive years.” It follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, starting in the 50s.

Jean had been watching the show for awhile, admitting that fashion has always been one of her favorite subjects, and she noted that this show, especially, exhibits clothes that were so important to the time when she became fashion conscious; they were the clothes like the ones she wore in the 50s.

Then she reads this article about the woman who is responsible for these clothes designs, and Janie Bryant’s story resonates to her own.  Janie is a Southern woman who grew up in Tennessee.  Her mother and especially her grandmother had been fashion conscious, and this laid seeds for Janie’s growing interests.

Janie’s story stirred memories of Jean’s, of her growing up in Batesburg and joining with her mother who was a working woman in her enjoyment of fashions also.  When Jean began her work life it was at the bank in Batesburg, and she had a business relationship with the owner of a dress shop there – like in some small Southern towns – a shop that carried fine clothes, and in this instance, one-of-a-kind. This was Miss Lona’s shop and she ordered only one of each design, in several sizes. (Many will remember that Edgefield had such a shop, Ruby Holson’s called Ruby’s.)

Each day Jean’s job with the bank took her out on the street checking in with businesses, and she would drop by Miss Lona’s and pick up her bank deposit.  In turn Miss Lona would advise of new shipments.  Jean enjoyed taking some of her money and spending it on clothes, and she collected some handsome outfits in a time (the 50s) when women dressed more “in costume” with hats, shoes, bags and gloves as a part of the ensemble.

Jean said she and girlfriends traveled together, even to New York City, when they had vacations, and their fashions went with them.  Not only did she buy these clothes, but she preserved them.

Now getting back to Janie. As Jean read about her she felt she had something to offer this young Southern woman. She had learned that not only did this young lady work on the Mad Men clothes, but she has been a writer for a number of fashion magazines – one being the Vogue equivalent in Russia.  She has studied in Paris, in New York and then went to LA to take her talents.

Jean lost her own daughter Harriett several years ago. Her lovely daughter would have been the recipient of all these beautiful designs of a special era, but with her death, there was no one to save them for (about 75 pieces in all).  It then occurred to her that maybe Janie could use them for the show.

She contacted her and a relationship developed that is still going.  They call each other from time to time, and Janie writes to her, as well as the costume staff, as seen in one note shown with this story.

As one might suspect, Jean offered these fashions to Janie and she was so pleased.  “She called me,” said Jean, ”and she was thrilled.”  Janie said, “Send what you can right away.”  And so she did and now they are being assimilated into the wardrobes of these stars, either as actual costumes or they are being copied.

“They are having to be altered,” says Jean; she was a size 4 petite.  “Most of these stars are zeros and twos,” according to Jean.

This happened one year ago.  She has even sent, at Janie’s request, peignoirs from Jean’s trousseau.

Recently Janie married a musician, and she called Jean to tell her about the wedding. Jean says she feels maybe she is a grandmother substitute.  Janie was exclaiming that her wedding dress was a Priscilla of Boston, a style that was especially known in the 50s.  Jean told to her that her own wedding dress was a Priscilla of Boston, one that she had seen in a magazine and Miss Lona had ordered for her.

Most folks know Jean’s husband.  They were married in the1950s.  They met when he returned from the Korean War; he had also served in WWII.  Their courtship was a whirlwind of several months before their marriage.  Jean continued her interest in fashions and this became an asset along the way in that Harry Bell, her husband, became prominent in agriculture. At one time he was named one of the three outstanding men in agriculture of the 20^th century. (Bell’s great contribution was in spearheading the drive to wipe out the boll weevil.) He served on boards and committees, under a number of Presidents, and their travels and appearances during the 60s, 70s and 80s required clothes to meet the demands of these jobs.

Her interest in fashion has continued, but the most fun seems to have been in those earlier designs that she held for so long, and now are in the hands of Janie Bryant and the Mad Men costume department.

This is a story I chased, somewhat. It is such fun to link the interesting and resourceful folks of our area with the exciting world of the famous and, in this case, fabulous fashions.  Jean Bell made the link to fashions seen on television through sharing a wardrobe that will be seen, either as copies or through alterations, in the MAD MEN series. Here is her story. And if you loved the clothes of the 50s and early 60s, you will love this story. Ed. Note

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  50’s, 60’s, Fashion, Janie Bryant, Mad Men, Wardrobe