VOIR COUTURE

Voir Couture, loosely translated, means to see style. The J Line dress, as many others, is a basic style. There really is no mystery. Develop one basic dress. Change the skirt, and/or neckline, and/or sleeve, and/or skirt length, and/or bow placement. And presto! You have designed your own dress!

Fabric selection is another design choice. Acetate taffeta, acetate satin and acetate moire are basic. Add lace or choose other fabrics (silk, velvet, etc.); this will change the price and also give the design your special look.

Sizes available range from 2 to 18 for missey's, 2 to 24 and up for women's. Special orders are accepted for girls and toddlers. Mail order is simplified as the size chart is based on garment measurements, not your measurements. This means that if you want a snug fit or a relaxed fit, the choice is yours, not the manufacturer's.

To complement The J Line dresses, I have access to shoes either dyed to match or accessorized (bows, appliques, etc.) in the $25-$50 range. Petticoats--straight, crinoline, or hoop--are also available.

This line is exciting to me because of the diversity -- style range, price, fabric. Plus, there is no mystery, no fashion dictates. You choose, not the designer or the store buyer.

The entire month of February will be exciting for me. Not only has there been the development of The J Line itself, but I will be introducing it February 23 at a bridal show sponsored by The Wedding Entrepreneurs of Distinction.

To add to the excitement, two of my children (son Christopher and daughter Jessica), along with their "special friends", are coming to Dallas to take part in the show, They will join several of my clients in modelling Judith wedding gowns and other couture designs. If you'd like to take part in the excitement of this bridal show, which simulates an actual wedding reception, mark Sunday, February 23, Union Station, 1 to 4 p.m., on your calendar. Tickets are $5 if you pre-register (call me and I'll take care of the paperwork) or $6 at the door. All proceeds from the show benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.