California Apparel News

Jodie Dolan started her company four years ago at the most basic level of clothing design: T-shirts. Dolan, who has a degree in art history from the University of California, Santa Barbara, hand-painted T-shirts in her garage and sold them at La Bella boutique in Long Beach, Calif., where she worked. With La Bella’s help, Dolan found a sales rep and inked her first order with Saks Fifth Avenue.

Dolan has come a long way from those first embellished tees. She relaunched the line in Spring ’07 with casual jersey items that have a Resort-like ease. For Fall ’08, Dolan refines her collection, which balances relaxed shapes and sophisticated details.

“It’s taken a more fashion approach, but still, being from California [has] that effortless feel to it,” Dolan said. “The product category changed a little bit, but the sensibility is the same.”

In collaboration with head designer Hillary Justin, who studied sculpture, Dolan excels at novelty dresses. The shapes are easy to understand, such as a strapless dress with a tulip skirt, a long-sleeve empire-waist silk dress and a three-quarter-sleeve silk jersey dress with cowl neck. Dolan adds a fashionable edge through pleats, gathers and darts on dresses, pencil skirts and tie-neck blouses. A palette of soft ivory, vibrant terracotta, rich turquoise and speckled gray keeps the tailored line from looking severe. “We always add a little bit of whimsy to the line and a little bit more fun,” Dolan said.

Wholesale price points are $85 for a silk jersey top; $115 for a printed silk top; $100shy; to $150 for dresses in silk, velvet, silk velvet or wool suiting fabrics; $150 to $199 for fashionable cashmere-blend sweaters; and approximately $188 for outerwear and coats.

Dolan has been sold to Anthropologie; Fred Segal in Santa Monica, Calif.; Ron Herman stores in Los Angeles; Barneys New York; and Henri Bendel and Big Drop in New York.

For more information, contact the Core Showroom, located in suite 402 of The New Mart, at (213) 893-6995. —Rhea Cortado