No Apologies Winner:  Katherine Jane Bryant

April 6, 2009

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As a girl in Cleveland, Tenn., Janie Bryant enjoyed creating new clothes for her dolls. A few years later, she became an avid fan of classic movies like Guys and Dolls and Gone with the Wind.

Today, Bryant is an award-winning Los Angeles costume designer whose unique fashion sense has made Mad Men one of the most talked-about shows on television. Her skinny ties, pencil skirts and matte red lipstick have inspired collections from fashion leaders Michael Kors and Tom Brown. She’s also been credited with helping to bring a more formal look to the workplace and boosting the sales of men’s wear.

“Whoever thought Mad Men would become such a huge design craze? You never know when things will click like that,” says Bryant, adding that clothes help create a TV or movie character – almost as much as the script.

Bryant, who leads a nine-person costuming team, admits to obsessing about the details of her designs. “I wonder if the guys’ trousers are high enough or if the colors are working together for the ladies. And I want the extras to look just as good as the principals.”

After getting her start on films and commercials, Bryant’s big break came in 1999 doing costume design for David Milch’s television series Big Apple, followed by the HBO Western series Deadwood, for which she won a 2005 Emmy award.  So where is fashion going next? Bryant thinks men’s suits will continue to have that classic ’60s influence, while women’s designs will draw more from the 1970s. In fact, one of Bryant’s personal favorites from that decade is a leather jacket with multi-colored leaf and acorn appliqué patches. But while styles come and go, Bryant believes that consistency helps women achieve career success. “Be clear about who you are and what you want,” she says, “and then put all your energy into your goal, knowing that nothing is going to stop you.”

For more Changing the Game Awards Winners:

No Apologies Winner: Dr. Jane McGonigal
No Apologies Winner: Joslyn Barnes
No Apologies Winner: Jacqueline Novogratz
Quantum Leap Winner: Nancy Smith
Paradigm Shift Winner: Esther "E.T" Franklin
Brainwave Winner: Sue Bostrom