Fashion

Jude Jowilson’s Fashion Line is a True New York Success Story

Jude Jowilson left behind an atelier and successful career in Cebu to pursue his fashion design dreams in the Big Apple–and it’s definitely paid off.

In 2005, Jude Jowilson Elardo was making a name for himself in the Cebuano fashion scene. His designs were head and shoulder above his contemporaries—fusing panels when everyone was doing beadwork, using teal when everyone was still doing fuchsia. Stylists took notice of his designs, eventually leading to features in glossies like this one. He soon became sought-after, with clients ranging from Chinese businesswomen to It girls, even before the term was coined.

So it came as a surprise to his colleagues and clients that one day, his studio along Jones Avenue appeared to be closed. Indefinitely. “After eight years, I realized there was something missing—I was a designer, but I didn’t know how to make a pattern or how to sew. I only knew how to sketch,” Jude admits. “At that time there was no fashion design school in Cebu, and I was hungry for knowledge. I wanted to learn more of the things I was passionate about.”

Jude left Cebu to continue his education in fashion design at the Parsons School of Design in New York. He learned the basics of pattern-making, draping and sewing. He also discovered cutting edge techniques that he wasn’t aware of while in Cebu.

Jude Jowilson gets his inspiration from Old Hollywood. SEATED Tallulah Dress in French Chantilly lace. STANDING FROM LEFT Harlow Dress with cape in French Chantilly lace; Olivia dress in Italian tulle soft a skirt and French Alencon Lace

More than a decade after, the decision to move to the Big Apple proved to be smart and rewarding. His New York bridal label Jude Jowilson has a steady stream of clients, mostly modern New York brides who appreciate his attention to detail and his choice of fabric, which is mostly 100% silk and lace sourced from Europe. He is inspired by good old Hollywood glamour, and actresses like Marlene Dietrich, Greer Garson and Rosalind Russel. His designs steer clear of cliches—the overly designed and heavily beaded wedding gowns—and lean more on the clasic and elegant.

The presence of Jude Jowilson’s designs continues to reach more stores each year, and can even be found as far as Korea. Through bridal website The Knot, and through social media and referrals from past clients, he is also in-demand for custom bridal gowns. He travels the country, doing trunk shows to personally meet potential brides in the stores that carry their dresses.

Their biggest break was joining New York Bridal Week at Pier 92 in the Spring of 2015. “We got a small spot, and were up against all the major bridal brands. It was scary and intimidating,” Jude recalls.

Their studio is in a 1920s building with the original tin ceiling intact.

“We were told by most exhibitors and the director of the show not to expect any buyers because it was our first show, and we were a new brand. We were lucky and got picked up by a few stores. We were happily surprised and grateful, since it was unexpected. After the show, we needed to find a small studio in Manhattan to be our sample room. We found one in the NoMad district. This Fall 2016 will be our fifth season, and we moved to a new larger studio earlier this year in the heart of Chelsea.

Similar to brands like The Row who produce domestically in an effort to resuscitate the city’s garment District, Jude Jowilson is proudly “Made in New York.” But unlike these massively funded brands, Jude swears you don’t need to break the bank to start a fashion label. “In 2013, I started building my first collection of 13 dresses all by myself—with no assistance, a one-man show. We started in the kitchen of our old apartment, and then used one of our spare small bedrooms for sewing.”

Part of the reason why his label is so successful is because of how involved Jude is in every aspect of production. The quality of craftsmanship is exceptional. His business partner and husband Larry shares, “He has a way about him that makes everyone feel comfortable, and there’s no denying his creations are beautiful works of art.”

Jude Jowilson Elardo has changed his brand to Jude Jowilson as a rebirth of sorts, a proverbial toast to new beginnings. This second act, it seems, is proving to be quite the New York success story.

For appointments, call +1 (917) 362-878 or email them at info@judejowilson.com. Visit their website here.

Fashion

Ravens, Runways, and Revelations: A Glimpse of Amato

by OJ HOFER | photo credit JOSEPH ONG | jewelry ROYAL GEMS

Fashion had become as instinctive as breathing—so natural that one scarcely noticed it. Yet, after seasons adrift in sartorial limbo, the piercing peal of Birds of Prey by Amato Furne One jolted this archipelago’s fashion scene to attention. Amato’s spectacle soared beyond mundane couture, drawing me from the quiet of my atelier to the intoxicating front row at the reinvented Tops in Busay—from the low murmur of machines to the electrifying brouhaha of the style set.

: A lattice dress with an aureole, beautifully bedecked with Birds of Prey, opens the show.

: A winged bustier frames the face with bold curlicues.

: A fringe dress with a farthingale rustles mysteriously in the nocturnal stillness.

: A bell-shaped T’nalak dress, woven with vivid dreams, sways with mystery.

: A T’nalak ballgown, shrouded in black mesh, catches the moonlight like a whispered secret.

: An entrance-making tulle and T’nalak off-shoulder ensemble commands attention.

: A crystal-studded bodysuit paired with a vinyl trench coat burns with fierce intensity.

: A red lacewing butterfly emerges, shedding the remnants of a tattered cocoon.

: A fiery ensemble, cloaked in phantom glamour, leaves an unforgettable impression long after the wearer’s exit.

Amato is not merely a label; it is a visionary ideal stitched in silk and dreams, a symphony of artistry that transforms yarns, fibers, and fabric into fashion phantasmagoria. Under the deft hands of Furne One, Amato has adorned the world’s most fearless icons—Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez—women who, like his creations, embody style, strength, and spectacle. His couture is not merely worn; it takes flight, transforming the wearer into a mesmerizing apparition of fleeting beauty—a phenomenal vision that lingers long after the moment has passed.

But how does one conjure such fantastical transformations? To offer a glimpse into the mind of this visionary, we posed three playful questions:

Oj: If you were a bird, would you soar as a mighty raptor or scheme as a clever corvid?
Furne: I’d be a raven—sharp-witted, shrouded in mystery, and draped in the perfect shade of midnight. Its inky plumage matches my flair for dark romance; because even in shadows, I prefer a little drama.

Oj: What would be your most formidable power?
Furne: As a raven, I straddle the seen and unseen—transcendence is my superpower.

Oj: What bird would you absolutely refuse to be reborn as?
Furne: Never a turkey—too commercial, too festive, and far too likely to end up as Thanksgiving dinner.

Fashion

Lucky Colors of 2025: Harness the Energies of Emerald Green & Carmine Red for Success

Thom Browne Cropped tweed jacket

by Oj Hofer

With the Year of the Wood Snake underway, understanding the significance of lucky colors can help align us with its energetic flow. Rooted in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, the year’s fortifying shades—emerald green and carmine red—offer mindfulness and good intention attracting luck, and fostering personal growth.

Emerald green, associated with the Wood element, symbolizes renewal, clarity, and inner peace. In the year of the wood snake, its dynamic energies will empower and inspire you, fostering growth, renewal and wise transformations. The hue is ideal for moments of self-reflection, study, or creativity. Wearing or incorporating this shade into your space enhances balance and mental focus.

Carmine red, linked to the Fire element, embodies passion, confidence, and vitality. This year, which according to the Bazi Four Pillars Chart, has a lack of metal, earth and fire elements, it will bring balance and the propitious energies. It’s perfect for professional meetings, decision-making, and moments requiring assertiveness as a splash of red can energize and embolden you throughout the day.

Stella Macartney vegan Leather tote

Stefano Ricci silk tie with paisley print

To fully harness their benefits, use these colors in a contemporary, mobile context; through clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories. Alternate between these two potent tints based on your needs. For example, wear green for calmness and clarity when you are going into stressful and mind challenging meetings or appointments. Choose red when you are going into places or situations where you need courage and motivation such as fashion galas, elite socials, prestige affairs, VIP gatherings and so forth.

Saint Laurent crepe de chine mules

Optionally, you can also choose to wear these colors inconspicuously in small details, such as a garnet or jade bracelet, or a ruby or emerald pendant and earrings set. Men can wear a burgundy or forest green tie or pocket square, or casual polo shirts with poppies or with botanical prints, or jade and garnet jewelry. Doing so can subtly align your energy with the year’s vibrational flow.

Jan Leslie emerald bracelet

Daily Mood Cuff Links with red tiger’s eye tubes

The use of colors is more than just aesthetic choices or preferential picks. Colors can serve as energetic tools, reminding you of your good intentions and keeping you mindful of you daily motions. Effecting an optimistic mental state in the wearer, they can effectively shield you from negativity while fostering prosperity and emotional balance. Thoughtfully incorporating them into your wardrobe and surroundings ensures that you move through 2025 with confidence and the right intentions.

Embracing emerald green for tranquility and carmine red for strength are intentional, mindful choices that have the power to transform your energy and shape your path forward. May you have the best of luck in navigating through Year of the Snake with harmony, energy, and the power to attract good fortune.

Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.