When I was nineteen, my favorite dress was a wonderful print blouson top with a flowing skirt by Janice Wainwright (fabric probably by Celia Birtwell) that my mom found on sale in the designer department at J.L. Hudson department store in Detroit. I was lucky to have mom’s help to be a stylishly dressed young woman, and used my credits earned as a store model in the juniors department at Jacobson’s in Dearborn to buy a few precious items. Unfortunately, those and other designer dresses disappeared from my closet during my early twenties. Too many parties, with too many unfamiliar guests, most likely.
Rather randomly (as I find photos, or take them), I will showcase some of my pieces on this page, interspersed with interesting clothing that I don’t own. I’ve posted about two dresses on the main blog, here and here. First, I will share my olive green wool cape, which looks terrific worn with all black, in nearly any slim configuration (dress,skirt,pants,top), as the batwing jacket flows into a large shape with arms extended.
Below, this delightful black jacket of virgin wool crepe is intricately embroidered on front and back in the design of a scarf, and is one of my favorites.
It has become a travel basic, and I get compliments whenever I wear it! In the following photo, I am looking in the mirror while my pal Caroline is behind the door; we are getting ready to go to dinner. The jacket is worn with a black silk shell and a bronze metallic skirt, along with bronze metallic Cole Haan ballerina flats.
Below is a beautiful strapless evening gown of silk devore velvet with touches of coral and metallic black in the top of the dress, and especially on the gorgeous jacket. Although I didn’t buy mine from Shrimpton Couture, it’s identical to this one that they recently sold:
I also own another dress from this collection, of shorter length, in teal and black velvet. Here’s a photo of me wearing it:
I also own another dress from this collection, of shorter length, in teal and black velvet. Here’s a photo of me wearing it:
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| Wearing vintage Janice Wainwright in the Chihuly garden at Elise’s wedding |
You can buy a similar dress on 1stDibs.com!
Janice Wainwright’s design trademarks include draping beautiful, luxurious fabrics on the bias, dolman sleeves, drawstring waistlines, piping, and precise, detailed tailoring. Watching this rare video of a Janice Wainwright fashion show in the late 1980s, I’m struck by the continuation of design themes. Although this is one of her later collections, her themes remain true to those of the 1970s as her designs evolve with the time (and continue to influence). It looks like my evening dress and jacket could be from that collection, judging by the dressy jackets with similar velvet and black metallic work.
In my closet reducing efforts during Lent 2021, I discovered this textured velvet jacket that I had completely forgotten about. I bought it on eBay very cheaply, really just because the price was so low. The designer brand tag inside was from Wainwright’s later years (late 1980s, perhaps), but had been cut in half. This was done to designer merchandise that was sold at end of season to discount houses such as Loehmann’s (one of my favorite places to browse for clothing).
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| Textured black velvet with black satin trim, decorative button, and characteristic dolman sleeves |
Of today's designers, I think that Isabel Marant often riffs from Janice Wainwright.
Other places to find choice, vintage clothing by Janice Wainwright include:
The dress below is one I covet, but do not own in this colorway. I did manage to buy it in a gold and green version though!
Other places to find choice, vintage clothing by Janice Wainwright include:
The dress below is one I covet, but do not own in this colorway. I did manage to buy it in a gold and green version though!
Look at the detail on this 1970s vintage Wainwright dress crafted of exquisite embroidered silk net and ribbons.
The back is pretty sweet also:
I have bought myself a couple of pieces that are evocative of this dress, most notably a blouse by JS Collections (around $110 at Nordstrom last winter), which I’ve only worn once -- when I was 5-7 pounds overweight. I was not pleased with photos of myself in it, but I do love this zippered sheer silk ribbon and mesh "shirt-jacket" (including its black camisole underneath) combined with slim black crepe pants. Now that I’m slimmer, I’ll have to try it again!
But wait, this isn’t a Janice Wainwright piece! Neither is this dress from JS Collections, which I convinced my friend Leslie to buy at the same time I bought the shirt.
The back is pretty sweet also:
I have bought myself a couple of pieces that are evocative of this dress, most notably a blouse by JS Collections (around $110 at Nordstrom last winter), which I’ve only worn once -- when I was 5-7 pounds overweight. I was not pleased with photos of myself in it, but I do love this zippered sheer silk ribbon and mesh "shirt-jacket" (including its black camisole underneath) combined with slim black crepe pants. Now that I’m slimmer, I’ll have to try it again!
But wait, this isn’t a Janice Wainwright piece! Neither is this dress from JS Collections, which I convinced my friend Leslie to buy at the same time I bought the shirt.
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| Dress by JS Collections, using similar design technique |
Getting back to Janice Wainwright, his floral two piece outfit came into my wardrobe many years ago, and I have not worn it for ages, but it’s fun, and bears several trademark features of her design:
Other Janice Wainwright pieces make an appearance in some of my blog posts, and are also shown below. This is a lovely wool dress with subtle ruffles:
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| Black Wool Crepe, ca 1970s |
I bought this from a delightful English lady who wore it once, to Ascot, and included her note about it in this post:
Below is one of my favorites from Janice Wainwright. As described by a seller on 1stDibs.com, “Incredible vintage Janice Wainwright black jersey and purple velvet dress! Iconic piece, that reflects Wainwright’s incredible attention to detail, which in turn flatter the body in an indescribable way. Black silk jersey, with a purple silk velvet collar, and attached sash belt. Chic dolman sleeves. Can be worn two different ways: with the sash tied low (for that ‘Roaring 20s’ flapper vibe). Or, the sash can be tied up at the waist, for an equally impressive look. Easily transitions from day to night.
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| You too can own this dress! |
Many more outfits by Janice Wainwright will be posted as I find older photos or take new ones!
