Ep 16. The Backup Dress

Jane By Design season 1 episode 16, "The Backup Dress," revolves around Jane Quimby, a high school student who works as a fashion assistant to Gray Chandler Murray, a powerful fashion designer. In this particular episode, the annual Donovan Decker charity gala is just around the corner and Jane is assigned to help Gray find the perfect dress for the occasion. However, things take an unexpected turn when Gray becomes ill and is unable to attend the gala, leaving Jane to take her place.

Jane is thrilled at the prospect of attending the Donovan Decker charity gala but is worried about what dress to wear. Fortunately, she has a backup dress, which she believes is suitable for the event. The backup dress is a vintage gown she bought at a thrift store and spent months restoring. Jane takes it to Jeremy Jones, a fashion designer hired by Gray to create her dresses, to make some final alterations. Jeremy is impressed by the dress and agrees to make some minor tweaks to give it a contemporary edge.

Meanwhile, Billy Nutter, Jane's best friend and secret crush, is also going to the gala with his girlfriend Lulu. Jane is disappointed but decides she should go anyway because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She also wants to make a good impression on Eli Chandler, Gray's son, who is visiting from London. Eli and Jane have developed a sort of flirtatious friendship over the past few weeks, much to Billy's annoyance.

As the day of the gala approaches, Jane becomes increasingly nervous and overthinks her dress choice. When she sees Lulu wearing a glamorous red dress, she starts to regret her decision to wear the backup dress. However, when she arrives at the gala, she receives compliments from everyone, including Eli, who tells her she looks stunning. Billy also notices Jane's beauty and begins to develop feelings for her.

The evening is going well until Jane discovers that Jeremy, the designer who altered her dress, has copied the vintage dress and made multiple copies of it for Gray's fashion line. Jane is shocked and furious, feeling betrayed by someone she trusted. She confronts Jeremy, who defends himself, claiming he had to do it to meet Gray's deadline. Jane realizes the importance of sticking to her values and principles and decides to speak up for herself.

At the end of the episode, Gray praises Jane for holding her ground and shows interest in giving her a bigger role in the company. Eli asks Jane for a dance, and they share a romantic moment. Billy realizes his feelings for Jane and admits them to her, but she is torn between him and Eli and has to make a difficult decision.

Overall, "The Backup Dress" is an exciting episode that showcases the challenges and opportunities Jane faces as a young fashion assistant. It highlights the importance of trust, honesty, and staying true to oneself, even in the face of adversity. The episode also explores Jane's complicated love life and the different relationships she has with Billy and Eli.