Nouvelle

Friends of JV: Christiane Millinger and Artistic Dressing

Posted on September 12 2020

Christiane Millinger is a respected merchant of handmade rugs in Portland, Oregon. One who has learned to express herself through her clothing. Jane’s Vanity is her inspiration. JV style has helped her to hone her taste throughout her career. She is a testament to the idea that creative professional women can have fun with their clothes.

Clear Color

Posted on September 11 2020

This unusual year has created an urge to look inward--at one’s closets. On my block there are “free” boxes at the corners, filled with some quite nice things. But there they sit. No one seems to want to add the odd item. Rather, one wishes to define. And, as summer winds down, one is especially called to analyze one’s wardrobe. Jane’s Vanity has a few hints.

As If!

Posted on September 08 2020

Dress for your dreams. Maybe you can’t travel right now. But let your imagination take flight. Stay in travel shape, with dreamy possibilities from Jane’s Vanity. And wear them well at home!

Sokolsky

Posted on August 30 2020

The lingerie design house of Gilda & Pearl conjures fashion history with its latest confections. Simple yet devastating, the garments recall the mad mad world of fashion photographer Melvin Sokolsky, who, among other things, hoisted fashion models over Paris in huge plastic bubbles. His surrealistic ideas just suited the 1960s. Jane’s Vanity likes the vibe too. Let’s explore.

Venus On The Half Shell

Posted on August 29 2020

This year, the painting The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli will be in our dreams rather than on our vacation itinerary. So summery, it symbolizes the ideal seaside vacation. And suggests a renaissance of wardrobe possibilities from Jane’s Vanity.

The Soul of Lingerie

Posted on August 24 2020

“Brevity is the soul of lingerie.” So says American wit Dorothy Parker. Do we agree? Perhaps the soul of lingerie is something more subtle. Jane’s Vanity explores the quotable world of love and lingerie.

Hint Hint

Posted on August 23 2020

The fine lingerie at Jane’s Vanity is subtle, even in its boldness. JV’s designers combine experience and passion to produce garments with nuance. They hint, surprise, whisper. It is a pleasure to wear them. And to study them. What sets them apart? Let’s look for clues from a few key details...

To Wit

Posted on August 16 2020

Add a wink to your wardrobe with witty lingerie. Release your inner “Cher” in unexpected pieces that look wow and nonchalant at the same time. Enjoy sending an artistic message in clever creations from Jane’s Vanity.

West Coast Babylon

Posted on August 15 2020

The ultimate glamour is “Old Hollywood.” Think of the final scene of the 1933 film Dinner at 8, as Jean Harlow and Marie Dressler lilt into the dining room. Harlow’s tight satin dress and fur-trimmed lamé cape show off not only her figure, but also the commanding status of California’s studio designers. The movies sent fashion trends blowing from the west. And that breeze continues to swirl, especially in lingerie design. Jane’s Vanity loves the slinky swagger of Old Hollywood.

Lighthearted

Posted on August 14 2020

We could all use a little boost right now. What makes your heart sing? A new baby? A new lipstick? Or, perhaps, one of the peppy new items on the JV website. For a midsummer perk-up, what could be better than scandalously beautiful lingerie? Well, possibly, wearing it. Let’s investigate.

Print Compositions

Posted on August 09 2020

A patterned coverup blurs the line between day and night. Wear it out, as an elegant jacket, or at home, to showcase your little nothings. Its versatility lies in its complexity. Let its colorful design inspire new ways to wear all of your favorites. Jane’s Vanity has a dreamy assortment of patterned robes.

Bread and Lingerie

Posted on August 08 2020

We need all sorts of sustenance in our lives: bread and chocolate, bread and roses, most definitely bread and lingerie. The concept comes alive in the 2000 Italian film Bread and Tulips (Pane e Tulipani). Watch this joyous romantic comedy (on YouTube) and identify with the heroine Rosalba whose tour bus (and family) accidentally leave her at a rest stop on the autostrada--with only a handbag and the clothes she is wearing. Naturally, she takes off for Venice! Jane’s Vanity tags along.

A Game of Croquet

Posted on August 02 2020

This summer, tennis seems to be the favored sport for social distancing. But we prefer croquet, the game of “fresh air and friendship.” A leisurely afternoon on the lawn requires just the croqueterie (mallets and so on) and a spirited crew who dress for the occasion in straw boaters and favorite Jane’s Vanity camisole sets. A riot of color on a field of green.

For Sentimental Reasons

Posted on August 01 2020

Wear them for luck. Wear them for nostalgia. It’s the little things that make your wardrobe (and your life) special. Wear a memory every day. Which of your JV pieces will bring back those scandalous, hilarious, transporting moments that tell your story?

La Diva

Posted on July 31 2020

No time like the present to be a living room diva. Cue up Pink Martini and belt it out. Play to your imaginary audience, arms outstretched, head held high. It’s easy to be a star, when you are wearing something stellar from Jane’s Vanity.

Friends of JV: Rachel Wood and Boudoir Photography

Posted on July 29 2020

Picture a hotel on the Greek island of Santorini and the chance meeting between a young photographer and a group of women who ask her to capture a special moment in their lives. Thus began Rachel Wood’s journey into boudoir photography. The women were confident, joyful, and comfortable with who they were. They galvanized Rachel to further explore boudoir photography. In doing so, she has learned not only about beautiful lingerie, but also how to send her clients’s spirits soaring.

Sway

Posted on July 27 2020

My summer anthem is Sway. The song prowls into my psyche with a mambo beat and transports me to a 1950s cocktail lounge. Dean Martin made Sway a hit then. It continues to be performed and recorded in various ways, from sultry to hip hop. I love them all. The first two lines tell the story: “When marimba rhythms start to play / Dance with me, make me sway…” It is an invitation to my hips to get up and get moving. I just need something swirly to wear from Jane’s Vanity.

The Boudoir Jacket on Holiday

Posted on July 26 2020

A short jacket or little cardigan is charming in the boudoir. Such an item can ward off the chill and provide a finishing (and provocative) touch to one’s loungewear. But, sometimes, it wants to sneak out of the house. And go on holiday with one’s day wear. Out and about, a boudoir jacket reinvents itself as the spirited friend who is always ready to mix it up. The ideal travel companion. Jane’s Vanity shows how.

A Cameo Performance

Posted on July 25 2020

An evening stroll in a summery Italian beach town will inevitably lead to the jewelry store windows. There to feast one’s eyes on corals, pearls, and cameos. Artisans have recreated these gifts of the sea in astonishing ways. The originality and audacity of their work just suits the vacationer’s sun-soaked style. A cameo in particular tells a little story. Let’s have a closer look. Isn’t that you there, in profile, wearing something sunny from Jane’s Vanity?

Buddies

Posted on July 24 2020

It’s so you. That certain something that has become your signature. It might be a color or a piece of jewelry. When you wear it, you feel like yourself. It defines, protects, tells your story. It is your friend. Here we offer a sample of such things that we love and need. We’ve included, of course, favorites from JV.

Three Blue Dresses

Posted on July 21 2020

Be cool this summer in a trio of unforgettable blue dresses from Jane’s Vanity. Each unique, yet part of a light and breezy theme. Together they are your happy summer wardrobe. For a beautiful summer, choose a rhapsody of blues from JV!

A Splash of Silk

Posted on July 10 2020

For a little thrill, click on the Jane’s Vanity “Apparel” link. Here you will find the JV crew’s amazing choices for stepping out. Often what you are looking for is a single inspiring building block in silk. It might be something subtle that adds just a touch of color and sheen. Create your street style with versatile and luxurious silks from JV.

A Bodysuit Summer

Posted on July 06 2020

In summer, the next best thing to wearing nothing is a bodysuit. Slip into it in the morning and you’re practically dressed. Just add a sundress or your favorite vintage jeans. For a sensuous summer, let nothing come between you and your Jane’s Vanity bodysuit.

Life’s Little Rewards

Posted on July 04 2020

The day beckons, but there you are, still in bed. What might succeed in prying you out, where the alarm clock has failed? The thought of the fabulous new silk robe that is waiting to embrace you! Lovely lingerie and loungewear from Jane’s Vanity can lure us through an entire day. A touch of luxury is so rewarding.

Self Portraits

Posted on July 02 2020

We are obsessed with the modern instant cameras that emulate the original Polaroid. Their hard-copy photos provide the perfect way to preserve your JV lingerie dreams. You could create a still life of your artfully-arranged skivvies. Or, better yet, model them yourself. A provocative partial image would make a lovely momento for someone.

Summer Sleepover

Posted on June 30 2020

Sleepwear originality is called for when nights are hot. Often the most pleasing composition is a little of this and a little of that: a favorite camisole or bralette matched to pajama bottoms. Or, for the cool of morning, a gorgeous chemise beneath an open floral pajama top. Jane’s Vanity likes to mix and match.

Thigh High

Posted on June 26 2020

As summer breezes swirl around you, feel the freedom and delight of stay up stockings. Hitting at mid-thigh, stay ups are flirty and sensuous. They provide a little natural air conditioning in the daytime, and a wink of playfulness at night. Their many styles will suit a variety of warm-weather occasions and moods. Jane’s Vanity has a cool collection from which to choose.

From A Distance

Posted on June 23 2020

Covid has been a good reminder to add a little extra attraction to my wardrobe. The British would refer to this as “pull.” As in, to seduce. Which might translate to a spritz of scent, a pretty color, a touch of lace. Jane’s Vanity offers a variety of ways to look fetching--from a distance.

Josephine Now

Posted on June 21 2020

Crisis sometimes brings surprising changes. What will life be like when the Coronavirus is controlled? Thinking about it brings to mind the Empress Josephine. Long before she met Napoleon, her world was turned upside down by the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. But she survived to become one of Les Merveilleuses (the Marvelous Ones) who scandalized yet fascinated all of Paris with their daring style.

La Belle Poitrine

Posted on June 18 2020

Summer is coming. It is time to lighten up our clothing and our hearts. But, before we glide into the sunshine, let’s consider the bosom. This delicate part of our anatomy needs protection. To keep it pretty throughout our lives, the handiest sunscreen is a terrific shirt. And Jane’s Vanity has thoughtfully brought us a variety of collared beauties. Such a shirt is also a great way to protect our necks (just pop the collar). And, in the shade, the front buttons allow us to show off the lingerie underneath.

Italian for Dinner

Posted on June 14 2020

As Paolo Conte would sing, “Via con me” (come with me) to a little party right in your kitchen. Tonight, make it a date to cook Italian. Loving attention to detail is the Italian way. Practice it for an intimate dinner and, always, with your interchangeable wardrobe from Jane’s Vanity.

And So, To Bed!

Posted on June 12 2020

What composition compares to the atmosphere of your bedroom? Tend it lovingly. Think of the bed as a room within a room.* Surround it with light and air, your favorite things (or your favorite nothinginess). And wrap yourself in transporting garments from Jane’s Vanity. Match them to your bedroom mood.

Hotel Dreams

Posted on June 10 2020

The New York Four Seasons is currently closed for business, but hosting health-care workers free of charge. Other New York hotels have followed suit. We salute you all. And hope to visit hotels again someday soon. During the isolation, we travel in a different sort of way. Just a click away are glamorous hotel websites and their accompanying videos--little works of art. We step into them, dressed accordingly, in our best from Jane’s Vanity.

Pinks All in a Row

Posted on June 08 2020

This spring, decorate yourself and your closet with shades of pink. How lovely to see them all lined up, from light to dark. Jane’s Vanity curates your pinks. To get into the pink frame of mind, one might begin by studying the Gallery restaurant at Sketch in London, considered the most Instagrammable restaurant in town.

Deep Dive

Posted on June 06 2020

Picture deepest navy silk. Its depth gives it mystery. Its sheen gives it life. It is not only a nice alternative to black, but also a partner of black. Like its wearer, dark blue is interesting, open to new ideas. Jane’s Vanity can’t resist it.

The Color of Cognac

Posted on June 05 2020

I have a rose that is the color of cognac. It is an old-fashioned one, with raggedy petals. Its deep first shade will turn to a pinky yellow. But, for a day, its mellow topaz is unforgettable. And reminds me of the rich golden silks from Jane’s Vanity.

Merle Noir for Jane’s Vanity

Posted on May 30 2020

Amidst the rolls of lace and silks in our new atelier surrounded by the blooming Dutch flower fields, I would like to take a moment to reflect back on our journey so far that have led me to the incredible collaboration between my brand, Merle Noir Lingerie, and Jane’s Vanity.

Tell Me a Tale

Posted on May 28 2020

British singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka’s poignant, jazzy “Tell Me A Tale” is an inspiration. For life, for lingerie. “Tell me a tale that always was, Sing me a song that I’ll always be…” Get in the mood to be your true self, in sensuous pieces from Jane’s Vanity that you feel can “turn me around, so that I can be, everything I was meant to be…”

To Go

Posted on May 27 2020

Do the dinner dash in charming loungewear from Jane’s Vanity. In Portland, we are finding ways to social distance, yet support our neighborhood restaurants. Interesting food is just a call ahead. Then, as if on a fashion runway, we stroll down the street (right down the middle) to pick it up. What shall it be tonight? Here we imagine archetypical PDX restaurants/bars/foodcarts (don’t look these up) and appropriate JV attire.

Friend of Jane’s Vanity: c. l. bigelow

Posted on May 20 2020

“Art is the lifeline.” Amidst the international COVID crisis, these words of artist and sculptor c. l. bigelow stand out. Right now we see art all around us: in music, on the sidewalk, in the making of a homemade mask. It is unstoppable. And in these times, it is relevant and reassuring to speak to an artist who is also a friend of Jane’s Vanity.

A Surprise

Posted on May 15 2020

Social isolation doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate. Birthdays are happy in a new way. Non-occasions offer festive possibilities. Jane’s Vanity is our party place. Perhaps the sweetest surprises are for no reason. Get in the party mood with an uplifting gift of lingerie. Domestic delivery is always free. Advice is at the ready. A surprise sure would be nice right now.

Bedtime for Mom

Posted on May 10 2020

It is never too early in the evening for tired mothers to slip into something fabulous and tiptoe off with a favorite picture book. Join a cast of classic characters from children’s literature to wish Moms everywhere a Happy Mother’s Day. Jane’s Vanity provides appropriate attire (domestic delivery always free).

Dawn Mermaid

Posted on May 09 2020

Feel like a goddess in Jane’s Vanity’s new couture collaboration with British designer Karolina Laskowska. The Eos Couture Lingerie Set is truly a work of art. Be part of the legacy of lingerie that envelops this exquisite creation.

Breakfast at JV

Posted on May 03 2020

In Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, our girl Holly Golightly has just one dress, but knows how to turn it into a wardrobe. Black, of course. Almost a character in the book. Sometimes a dress comes along that could inspire a novella. Jane’s Vanity has found such a wonder.

A Masculine Perspective

Posted on May 02 2020

When one considers who might bear the happy title of “Friend of Jane’s Vanity,” one should remember to include men. It is fascinating to imagine who they might be. We found one who was willing to answer a few questions. Here are his thoughts: on shopping at the original JV bricks and mortar store, and on the delightful topic of lingerie.

Freestyle

Posted on April 30 2020

As we isolate, we notice that styles are changing all around. Trips to the grocery store are now the perfect chance to experiment with one’s garments. Face masks may obscure one’s rhinestone earrings, but can be freeing in their own way. What might Jane’s Vanity suggest for daily distancing? Pajamas, darlings!

Bullet Bra Phenom

Posted on April 27 2020

Could it be? Is it back? The answer is yes. Jane’s Vanity loves the look of the mid-century bullet bra. With a little French spin, JV will have you loving it too.

Let’s Do Lunch

Posted on April 26 2020

“Let’s do lunch.” Sometimes this is a suggestion for a club sandwich and a good chat. But, it might be an invitation of a different sort. One that is light on food, let’s say, but delicious nevertheless. Whatever is on the menu, layer in a lovely little chemise, selected by the lingerie gourmets at Jane’s Vanity.

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