THE STORY

About

Julianne Bartolotta is a luxury women’s fashion brand dedicated to creating romantic, sophisticated clothing for women on the go. Family-owned and women-run, our style is defined by classy, feminine pieces with an edge. Each item is a statement piece, lovingly sourced and made in Italy for a tailored fit. Each collection is designed to help women create a capsule wardrobe, with the ability to mix and match pieces. With Julianne Bartolotta, you can go from brunch with friends to a night on the town without missing a beat.

Our Story

Julianne Bartolotta formed in 2022 to provide women with high-quality fashion that empowers them to feel feminine and confident. The brainchild of eponymous designer Julianne Bartolotta, the brand pulls its luxe form and sleek, Italian-made lines from Julianne’s own Italian heritage.

Julianne was born to parents of Italian descent and raised in Huntington, New York, the eldest of five girls. Growing up, the sewing machine was a household staple, as Julianne’s mother handmade all of their childhood costumes, sewed on Girl Scout badges, and made clothing alterations for family and friends. Julianne later got her start in apparel design and fashion merchandising at the University of Delaware, and upon graduation, displayed pieces in fashion shows in New York and along the East Coast.

Before launching her personal brand, Julianne studied fashion in Paris, Milan, and Florence. She worked for Elie Saab in Paris and later worked at Saks Fifth Avenue on the product development team, designing menswear and relaunching the women’s private brand business. That all changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York in March 2020, and Julianne was furloughed from Saks.

From a small folding table in her family’s kitchen, Julianne and her mother sewed 200 cloth masks for residents and staff at her father’s nursing home, which was one of the first in Connecticut to suffer a COVID outbreak. Residents started to feel more at ease when they saw staff wearing the brightly colored, cloth masks with fun patterns.

After seeing the positive impact of her designs on both staff and residents, Julianne decided to expand her mask-making operation to an online business and also offer handmade scrunchies, headbands, dresses, and terry cloth bathing suits.

Julianne returned to Saks in October 2020 with a new sense of purpose and a vision for a clothing brand that would bring joy to women’s lives. In January 2022, she left her position to pursue her Julianne Bartolotta brand full-time.

Using the same manufacturers as household luxury brands, Julianne Bartolotta features collections defined by bright pops of color, sultry silhouettes, and chic, understated details. Julianne Bartolotta aims to make women feel “like a light in a dark room.”

Written by Sarah E. Paez