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.
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Jude and Larry spend most of their spring and summer evenings in the balcony enjoying hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and watching the sun set. Here, Jude’s DIY accent pillows in geometric and chevron print are in full display.
Bridal designer Jude Elardo and husband Larry Manogue, Director of Sales for a major broadcasting network, weren’t looking to fall in love when they stumbled upon an open house in a high-rise building down the street from where they lived. But the views it offered—from the George Washington Bridge, down the Upper West Side to the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center—made a compelling argument. They had just remodeled the bathroom of a three-story townhome they owned and they weren’t looking to buy a house, but they just couldn’t resist.
“We made an offer for less than the asking price. The realtor said they’d never accept the offer—it was, after all, in a high-rise with unobstructed views and a doorman—but they did,” says Larry. “It is located in West New York, a part of New Jersey that is underrated. People may know Jersey City and Hoboken, but not a lot of people know where West New York is, and they are surprised by our views and close proximity to NYC.”
The condominium in itself was in a sorry state of pink walls and nondescript interiors, and they were intent on doing a complete remodel. They had a mere 11 weeks to work with, from the time they closed on their new high-rise purchase until the time they had to move out of their old home. With the narrow timeline, Jude and Larry made sure that they had all the supplies the contractor needed (such as tiles, lighting fixtures, faucets, and the like), so there was no delay when they completed work in one room and moved on to the next.
The fireplace anchors the living area, giving the space a cozy fee
Being in a high-rise building with a co-op, there were a lot of restrictions too. Jude shares, “There were load-bearing walls we couldn’t remove, and plumbing and gas lines that had to stay where they were. So we incorporated those things into part of our design aesthetic.” They also had to replace the original floor with new hardwood floors throughout the apartment. Both bathrooms and the kitchen had to be gutted and customized to their tastes.
The bar is a popular spot in Jude and Larry’s home. The martini is their drink of choice.
In the end, it was all worth it. Situated on the 11th floor, you enter into a space of over 500 square feet that opens up to the living room, kitchen and dining area. There is a terrace overlooking NYC and the Hudson River right off the main living-dining space. The sun-flooded living area frames the Manhattan skyline perfectly. Off the great room is a spare bedroom, where they changed the entrance to pocket doors so it can be used for additional entertaining space when needed. Down the hall are the guest bathroom, guest bedroom and master bedroom with an en suite bathroom.
White on white, texture on texture; Their bed adorned with quilted duvet covers and matlassè coverlets. The pillows lend a pop of fall colors
Framed with crown molding, the walls were set in tabula rasa of white and ivory.
“I would never choose to live in a house that is mostly white, but that was Jude’s vision,” Larry laughs. “He is the designer, and it turned out beautifully.”
Color crescendos as the seasons change, and Jude meant for the decor to reflect the romance of the evolving city. He adds pastel accent pillows and fresh blooms for spring, and for the past summer, he has incorporated a lot of blues and nautical stripes in the decor. The furniture, mostly from Restoration Hardware, is traditional, mixing in elements of different eras—Victoria, Neo-classical and Contemporary. A fun piece that subtly pushes the envelope is a sculpture of Larry hanging in the bedroom. “In 1993, I commissioned Brooklyn-based artist Avi Zuckerman to create a sculpture of myself from the waist up,” Larry shares. “I had to be covered by the plaster for over 45 minutes, breathing through a straw.”
In the dining area, they had a butler’s pantry custom built. It houses Jude’s collectibles which are, and compliments the handmade linen table cloth.
When asked about the style of their home, Jude quips, “Rustic Luxe, but not in an obvious or too literal sense.” Mongolian lamb furs, linen and cotton fabrics are mixed in with brass and metallic accents. He conceived the plaid and striped tablecloth, and the living room’s other upholstered pieces to mix and match. It’s Country Charm meets City Chic.
Although busy with their respective careers (Jude with his burgeoning bridal line and Larry with his corporate job), the couple loves to entertain whenever they can. They throw annual parties during the summer, Christmas and Thanksgiving, Jude’s favorite holiday. They configured the layout to have an open and sociable floor plan, where the kitchen is the heart of the home.
Jude’s gowns take weeks to create, and so he loves the instant gratification he gets from cooking for his friends and family. Crowd favorites are his pies and more recently, he’s discovered that edible centerpieces are a fun way to get the conversation started.
Jude and Larry have been married for three years and this is the second home they share together
Some people choose to splurge on name-droppable artwork and furniture—Jude, the consummate host, prefers to invest in fine china, flatware and silverware from Tiffany’s. His Le Creuset collection would make Ina Garten proud. “I’m obsessed with the butler’s pantry—it functions as storage, but I can also display my vintage china and milk glass collection,” Jude shares.
Larry, on the other hand, steers clear of the kitchen and prefers to entertain guests through music. “I love EDM—dance music—or the remixed versions of pop tunes. Kristine W is always featured on my playlist,” he shares. Coupled with a well-stocked open bar, and an easygoing and unpretentious way about entertaining, their guests can spend hours enjoying the view while sipping their drinks and chit-chatting.
From the vantage point of their sparkling home overlooking the big city, it’s tempting to arrive to the conclusion that this is the home they will spend the rest of their lives in. Larry reveals, “I’d like to stay close to NYC, and rent a home or apartment in different places around the world every year. Maybe we’d buy a guest house or bed and breakfast somewhere and Jude can run it.” Maybe not.
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