Julie DuRocher
Julie DuRocher is Jovani's Design Director. A French Canadian designer, she has designed evening wear since 1984, starting as the sole designer of the "After 5" collection and later launching her own label. She joined Jovani in 2007 as head designer and leads the design team in the New York studio across the prom, evening, bridal, pageant and couture collections.
Julie studied design in Paris and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Moore College of Art and Design. She designs from a woman's point of view: where the waistline falls, how a silhouette creates proportion, and how a gown feels and moves through a long evening.
Gowns from her studio have been worn by Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Ariana Grande, Selita Ebanks and Mary J. Blige. On the Jovani blog she writes about fit, fabric and choosing the right gown for prom, weddings and black-tie events.
- Weddings & Bridal
How to Choose Bridesmaid Dresses: Colors, Styles and Timeline
The best way to choose bridesmaid dresses is to set the wedding dress code, select a color plan, and agree on a comfortable fit before anyone orders. One shared detail can unite different silhouettes. A clear budget and ordering schedule then keep the bridal party coordinated without requiring everyone to wear an identical dress. Start…
- Weddings & Bridal
How to Spot Fake Designer Wedding Dresses Before Buying
The safest way to avoid a counterfeit designer wedding dress is to verify the seller through the designer before paying. Then match the advertised style number, color, and construction details to the official product page. Photos, discounts, and labels alone cannot establish authenticity. Begin with wedding dress fundamentals , then use the checks below before…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Dress Over 50: What to Wear for Any Dress Code
A wedding guest dress over 50 should suit the invitation, fit comfortably, and reflect your personal style. There is no age rule requiring long sleeves, dark colors, or a particular hemline. Start with the dress code and venue, then choose the shape and details you enjoy wearing. From a daytime ceremony to a formal evening…
- Weddings & Bridal
Questions to Ask a Bridal Stylist Before You Order a Wedding Dress
The most useful questions to ask a bridal stylist are about the exact gown you will receive, its fit, total cost, delivery date, and store policies. Before placing an order, request specific answers in writing. A beautiful sample is only the starting point; your purchase should be equally clear. Bring your wedding date, realistic full-outfit…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Dress Embellishments: 5 Types and How to Choose
Wedding dress embellishments are decorative details added to a bridal gown, including pearls, crystals, raised florals, bows, and lace appliqué. The best choice depends on the effect you want, where the detail sits, and how the finished dress feels. Compare texture and placement before judging sparkle alone. Start with bridal dress styles that suit your…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Nails: Colors and Designs to Match Your Dress
Wedding guest nails look most considered when they complement the dress instead of copying its color exactly. Start with the outfit, then choose a polish shade, finish, and length that suit the ceremony and reception. Sheer pink, muted rose, or a clean French tip can work across many looks. Deeper colors and small accents can…
- Cocktail Dresses Blog Post
How to Pick Jewelry for a Cocktail Party Dress
To pick jewelry for a cocktail party, start with the dress neckline and its level of decoration. Choose one focal piece, then keep the other accessories quieter. A simple dress can support bolder earrings or a necklace, while a beaded design may need only studs. Finish by checking comfort and the event setting. How Do…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Dress Lining: Opacity, Comfort, Color and Shape
Wedding dress lining is the inner fabric that helps control coverage, skin comfort, and the way a bridal gown looks. Its placement and color can change sheer lace, while its weight affects movement. Examine the lining during a fitting, not just the visible fabric. What Does Wedding Dress Lining Actually Do? A lining finishes the…
- Weddings & Bridal
How Wedding Dress Fabrics Look in Daylight, Flash and Warm Light
Wedding dress fabric in photos can look markedly different in daylight, direct flash, and warm indoor lighting. Satin may show bright highlights, while lace reveals patterned texture and tulle softens the outline. Test the actual gown in each type of light before choosing a fabric based on online product images alone. Why Does Wedding Dress…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Dress Necklines and Sleeves: A Practical Guide
Wedding guest dress necklines and sleeves should suit the ceremony, support your bust, and let you move comfortably. V-necks and square necklines offer different amounts of openness, while sleeve shapes change shoulder coverage. Choose the combination before deciding on accessories, then check the fit while sitting and raising your arms. Which Wedding Guest Dress Necklines…
- Cocktail Dresses Blog Post
Cocktail Dress Fabrics and Materials: How to Choose the Right One
Cocktail dress fabrics determine how a dress drapes, holds its shape, catches light and feels during an event. Crepe suits clean lines, satin adds shine, chiffon creates movement, and velvet lends depth. The best choice depends on the setting, garment construction and comfort, not the fabric name alone. Compare the material before settling on a…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Dress Fabric Weight: Drape, Support and Alterations
Wedding dress fabric weight changes how a gown falls, how substantial it feels, and how an alterations professional handles it. It can influence seasonal comfort, but outer fabric weight never tells the whole story. Lining, underskirts, trains, beading, and cut can add more total weight than the shell fabric. Use fabric weight as a comparison…
- Weddings & Bridal
How Much Does a Wedding Guest Dress Cost? A Practical Budget Guide
Wedding guest dress cost varies widely, but you can control your spending by setting an outfit budget before choosing a style. Start with the invitation, allow for tailoring, and compare complete costs rather than dress tags alone. There is no required amount a guest must spend. Use wedding guest dress styles as a visual reference…
- Weddings & Bridal
What Is Mikado Fabric? Structure, Sheen and Bridal Uses
Mikado is a substantial, smooth bridal fabric known for holding sculpted shapes and clean folds. It often has a controlled sheen rather than a highly reflective finish. Wedding dress Mikado may contain silk, synthetic fibers, or blends, so the fabric name alone does not identify its exact composition. If you are comparing designer wedding dresses…
- Weddings & Bridal
Chantilly vs Guipure Lace: Pattern, Weight, and Bridal Use
Chantilly vs guipure lace comes down to construction: Chantilly places delicate motifs on fine net, while guipure connects bolder motifs without that continuous mesh. Chantilly generally drapes softly. Guipure often holds a more defined pattern. For brides, the best choice depends on placement, lining, movement, and the look you want in photographs. What Is the…
- Design trends
Little Black Dress Trends 2026: Shapes, Texture, and Details
Little black dress trends in 2026 favor intentional shapes, dimensional decoration, and contrast between matte and reflective surfaces. The strongest updates are visible in the silhouette before you add accessories. Instead of selecting a black dress by occasion alone, study how its fabric, neckline, and skirt create the overall design. Jovani’s Little Black Dresses collection…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Dress Size Guide: Measure, Fit, and Alter
A wedding guest dress size guide should start with your bust, waist, and hip measurements, not the number on your usual clothing label. Compare those figures with the chart for the actual dress. Then check the bodice, hem, and movement before ordering or arranging alterations. A comfortable fit matters throughout the ceremony, dinner, and dancing.…
- Weddings & Bridal
Satin vs Mikado Wedding Dresses: Sheen, Shape, and Photos
Satin vs Mikado wedding dresses differ most in how their fabric reflects light and holds shape. Softer satin often drapes closer to the body, while Mikado usually creates firmer pleats and volume. Neither label guarantees a specific weight or level of shine. Compare the finished gowns in motion and in photographs before choosing. Start with…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Makeup Ideas That Work With Your Dress
Wedding guest makeup looks most cohesive when it complements your dress color, fabric, and level of formality. Start with the outfit, then choose a natural or more defined beauty look that suits the celebration. A navy crepe gown may welcome soft bronze eyes, while a detailed satin dress often needs less competing shimmer. Your comfort…
- Weddings & Bridal
How a Corset Wedding Dress Works: Boning, Lacing and Fit
A corset wedding dress works by shaping the torso with fitted panels and internal reinforcement. Boning helps the bodice keep its shape, while closures secure the fit. Some gowns also use cups and an internal waist stay. Together, these elements can stabilize the dress without requiring painful tightening. The word corset does not guarantee one…
- Weddings & Bridal
How Strapless Wedding Dresses Stay Up: Support and Fit Tests
How do strapless wedding dresses stay up without shoulder straps? A fitted bodice transfers support around the torso and waist, while internal structure helps the neckline keep its position. Boning, shaped cups, closures, and sometimes a waist stay work together. A bride should be able to breathe, sit, and move without repeatedly pulling the gown…
- Cocktail Dresses Blog Post
20 Best Little Black Dresses for 2026 by Style and Occasion
The best little black dresses for 2026 balance a clear design idea with a fit you can wear through an actual event. This edit compares 20 named Jovani styles, from tailored minis to decorated party dresses. Each pick has a specific use, so you can narrow the options before a fitting. How We Selected These…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Dress Cuts and Details: How to Choose
Wedding guest dress cuts affect more than appearance. The shape of the skirt, neckline, sleeves, and placement of details change how a dress fits and moves. Start with the invitation, then compare each design feature in the fitting room. A beautiful cut should also let you sit, walk, and celebrate comfortably. Which Wedding Guest Dress…
- Cocktail Dresses Blog Post
Cocktail Dress Size Guide: Measure, Fit, and Alter
A reliable cocktail dress size guide starts with your measurements, not your usual clothing label. Measure your bust, waist, and hips, compare them with the chart for the exact dress, and check how the garment moves. The right starting size should fit the least adjustable area without uncomfortable pulling or excessive gaping. How Do You…
- Weddings & Bridal
Mermaid vs Trumpet vs Fit-and-Flare Wedding Dresses: A Bridal Fitting Guide
A mermaid vs trumpet vs fit and flare wedding dress comparison becomes useful when you actually try the gowns on. Check where each skirt releases, then walk, sit, and turn before choosing. Bridal labels vary between designers, so movement and fit matter more than the name on the tag. Start with Jovani’s Wedding Dresses to…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Dress Fabrics: How to Compare Feel, Drape and Formality
Choosing wedding guest dress fabrics means looking beyond the fabric name. Chiffon offers floating movement, crepe creates a cleaner line, and satin reflects more light. The best choice also depends on the lining, dress code, venue, and how comfortably the finished dress moves. Use these checks before deciding. Which Wedding Guest Dress Fabrics Work Best?…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Guest Shoes: How to Match Your Dress and Venue
The best wedding guest shoes suit the dress code, complement your outfit, and remain comfortable across the ceremony and reception. Start with the ground you will walk on, then choose heel height, color, and shape. A polished low heel or dressy flat often works better than a taller shoe you cannot wear confidently. Which Wedding…
- Cocktail Dresses Blog Post
Cocktail Dress Necklines and Sleeves: A Practical Style Guide
Cocktail dress necklines shape coverage, support, and the overall impression of a party outfit. Start by deciding how much shoulder and chest coverage feels comfortable. Then compare neckline shapes, sleeve cuts, and how each combination moves. This guide helps you choose between designs rather than explaining one neckline in isolation. Which Cocktail Dress Neckline Should…
- Fashion and Style Tips
Pageant Dresses: A Complete Wardrobe Plan for Every Round
The best pageant dresses serve different jobs throughout a competition. An evening gown needs to support movement and stage presence, while an interview outfit should let the contestant communicate comfortably. Start with the pageant handbook, plan each required look, and schedule fittings before rehearsals. A coordinated wardrobe is more useful than a collection of individually…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Dress Construction 101: Seams, Layers, Interfacing, Boning & Lining
Wedding dress construction is the system of seams, supportive layers, boning, and lining that gives a bridal gown its shape and helps it move with the body. Seams contour fabric, interfacing stabilizes selected areas, boning supports a bodice, and lining finishes the inside. Comparing these details in Wedding Gowns reveals more than a photograph. What…
- MOB Blog Post
Mother of the Bride & Groom Dress Cuts & Details: A Complete Guide
The best mother of the bride dress cuts balance the shape you like with the movement you need. A-line gowns offer room below the waist, sheaths follow a closer outline, and trumpet skirts add a controlled flare. The same choices work for the mother of the groom. Start with the overall cut, then compare the…
- Weddings & Bridal
Bridal Vocabulary: 75 Wedding Dress Terms Brides See in Appointments and Product Pages
Wedding dress terms can make a bridal appointment feel more complicated than it needs to be. Consultants and product pages use words such as A-line, bateau, Mikado, chapel train, Basque waist, horsehair braid, and illusion mesh because each describes a specific part of the gown. You do not need to memorize every bridal term before…
- Formal Events Blog Posts
Winter Black Tie Dresses: Elegant Cold-Weather Looks
Winter black tie dresses need to solve two different problems at once. The gown must meet a formal evening dress code indoors, while the full outfit also needs to handle cold arrivals, outdoor photographs, wet ground, and temperature changes between spaces. The most reliable approach is to choose the black tie gown first, then build…
- Weddings & Bridal
Wedding Dress Anatomy: Bodice, Waistline, Skirt, Train, Lining & Support
Wedding dress anatomy is the way the main parts of a bridal gown work together. The bodice shapes the upper section, the waistline controls where the skirt begins, the skirt creates the overall silhouette, and the train extends the design behind the bride. Inside the gown, lining and structural support can affect how the dress…
- Cocktail Dresses Blog Post
Holiday Party Dress Guide: From the Office Party to Christmas Cocktails
Holiday party dresses cover a much wider range than one festive formula. An office reception, family dinner, Christmas cocktail party, hotel event, and formal corporate celebration may all happen within the same few weeks, but they do not call for the same dress. The easiest way to choose is to start with the event, then…
- Formal Events Blog Posts
Fall & Autumn Black Tie Dress Ideas
Fall black tie dresses need to meet a formal dress code while also working with cooler evenings, changing weather, and the deeper colors and textures associated with the season. The best choice starts with black tie requirements, then uses fabric, color, coverage, and styling to adapt the look for autumn. A fall event does not…
