Weddings. They’re all about the bride balancing everyone else’s expectations for her big day. But even if your mom wants country classic, your mother-in-law favors urban formal and some woman who once babysat the groom insists it should be Hawaiian-themed, there is one aspect wherein the bride’s opinion is the only one that matters: her dress. For the elegant, sophisticated classic woman in search of just the right dress for her wedding day, Janine Posa can work miracles. Posa, who designs about 40 original bridal gowns a year, began Y2K with a move to Hoboken. Coming from Bergen County, the Franklin Lakes native hopes to make her by-appointment-only business more accessible to her clients. “I have a large clientele in the city,” said Posa. “People can come from anywhere, but Hoboken is easier for the people from the city to get to.” Posa graduated from Parsons School of Design and began her bridal business four and a half years ago. Her experience with designers known for their chic and sleek wedding wear inspired her to launch a bridal line of her own. “I cater to a client who’s very sophisticated, classic and has an appreciation for finer fabrics and for details like beads and lace,” said Posa. “Someone who really likes the luxurious materials.” Speaking from her studio just hours before flying to California for a weeklong look at trade shows for new fabrics, Posa explained that this is a busy time. “Most brides contact me between eight and 12 months before their wedding,” said Posa. “I’m doing a lot of dresses for the fall and next year.” Then there are shows, like last month’s Bridal Event at the Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, where Posa shows her work to prospective clients. One of Posa’s biggest strengths, according to her clients, is her ability to listen to what they want. She first meets with a bride to discuss what kind of gown she wants, later drawing original sketches based on that discussion, steering the design toward what will best flatter the bride, and away from anything too trendy. “I don’t want to put them in something that they’ll look back at in 10 years and cringe because it’s so dated,” said Posa. Because she sticks to classic designs, Posa doesn’t have dramatic changes in her work from season to season. Rather, the changes reflect each bride’s fashion desires. But as her work matures, she’s been including more beadwork in her designs. “That’s what I find myself doing on so many gowns,” said Posa. “The detail makes it complete. Even though the style may be very simple, the beading makes it unique.” But hand beading and personal attention from an up-and-coming designer costs money. Posa said her dresses start at $2,500 each, and depending on the level of detail work, can cost much more. So after the design, the fittings, and the final product are done (typically one month before the big day) a bride gets to have something she’ll definitely appreciate: something she knows is perfect just for her. “Every woman should have the experience of getting a gown that perfectly fits and flatters her,” said Posa, who spends most of her time with clients getting the fit of the gown just right. JP Couture can be reached at 795-2229 or www.jpcouture.com.
A bride’s dream: Couturier moves to Hoboken
