So what can I say about Jimmy Johansmeyer of West Haven, Connecticut other then he is a wonderful actor and friend and costume designer the likes of which don’t much come around anymore. “JJ” has a god given talent for design, he understands the kind of glamour you used to see in the 1920′s, 30′s, 40′s or 50′s. His work is impeccable, every seam, every lining edge, all finished to perfection.

Jimmy designed a gown for me for an event several years ago. All I said to him was “I love the look of Old Hollywood. What he ended up designing was a replica of a dress actress Ava Gardner wore with Frank Sinatra. He whipped up a light burgundy silk shantung gown with a polka dot bodice which was hand beaded, can you imagine this? People flipped over the gown as did I, and when my eldest daughter got engaged I knew I would go to Jimmy again to make just the right Mother-of-the-Bride dress. This time I wanted a shorter dress for a beach wedding but with a flirty skirt to go around it. Once again he nailed it.

So, once I opened up my Annie Mame boutique, I was thinking how can I get people to know about Jimmy. I called him up and said “how ’bout developing a vintage line of clothing with a modern twist and a nod toward Hollywood,” so that’s just what he did. We’re calling the line “JJ” for Annie Mame. Jimmy has done a swing coat and an opera coat that will just knock you out and other items, dresses that could be perfect for bridesmaids. Everything I am wearing in the shots below he made. We want to do some ready-to-wear items as well as “made-to-measure” specialty garments. In my humble opinion, Jimmy has a talent the likes, of 8-time Academy Award winning designer, Edit Head and others like her. The structure of the garments back in the day that Head designed for the biggest movie stars at Paramount and Universal was just phenomenal.

So, here we go…we’re giving “JJ” for Annie Mame a whirl. You can find some of the garments at my boutique and we will be showing the collection at Venetucci Home in Newport, Rhode Island at a show there at the end of June as well. By the way, Jimmy’s electric blue dupioni silk opera coat (see above) will be worn by my boutique-mate Francine Piscitelli on June 3rd in Las Vegas. Francine’s  daughter, Marie-Lynn, is representing the state of Connecticut at the Miss USA pageant. Francine, as the Mother of Miss Connecticut USA, wanted to look beautiful, and she will in Jimmy’s coat. I love bringing Connecticut talent to the forefront and Jimmy is so deserving.

I wore all of his collection at an event at Venetucci Home so folks could see his fabulous creations, I think the sky is the limit for Jimmy. Any of these items can be ordered in any kind of fabric. How do you get a hold of the master of this collection here is the email:  jimjohan26@aol.com