We meet Jan in her signature look – baggy grey sweatshirt, little orange shirt collar poking through, huge orange-red, black and cream tartan skirt, white bobbysox and black Cuban-heeled leather shoes. An outfit her mother might have picked; Jan appears to hold no regard for fashion here with this hideous array, coupled with daft pigtails (dyed dark brown, her parting being coloured in with marker pen as her hair grew, as the actress was prematurely grey) in cream elastics. Her saving grace is her PL jacket, slightly too small, cuffs rolled up, and her trendy tortoiseshell sunglasses inlaid with diamante butterflies.
Jan needs the Pink Ladies the most, as it gives her a sense of identity and popularity she may not otherwise have, not being a particularly pretty or clever girl. Surely no coincidence that she wears her PL jacket the most. But Jan brings her qualities to the group, making them look good and keeping the Ladies amused.
Jan’s big moment, impersonating Bucky Beaver in the Ipana toothpaste commercial at Frenchy’s sleepover, was the actress’ idea. Clad in same grey jumper, blue and white plaid shirt underneath, white and blue pyjama bottoms, pink fluffy slippers and pigtails, she contrasts with Marty and Frenchy who have obviously given thought to their nightwear, in their girly shorty babydolls and hairnets (Marty has a scarlet red robe from a boyfriend in Korea, much to the others’ envy), though they all happily don wigs to mock Sandy.
Her turning point comes in a touching scene, where would-be suitor Putzie asks her to the dance-off and wins her confidence saying “there’s more to you than just fat”. Here she looks girly for the first time, although Grandma may have had the sewing machine out.
In an apricot chiffon collared dress with short puffed sleeves and floral embroidery, pinched in at waistband and puffing out in a circle, cream net petticoat underneath, flashing her big white pants, Jan is in joyous spirits. She wears white flats, a fashion step up from sensible black shoes; her hair is out of bunches and half-up under a sparkly tiara, corsage on wrist. She looks, and obviously feels like, a princess.
Jan’s confidence (and diet) is evident by the carnival, wearing a tight pastel green strappy dress with white buttons down and provocative neckline, and high white sandals. Along with her delicate necklace and flowers in her beautifully-curled hair, she is ready to leave Rydell a strong, self-assured woman in love, thanks to Putzie and the Pink Ladies.
