Meet John Dolio | Luxury Bridal & Personal Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Dolio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I officially took the role as Bridal Specialist at Oscar de la Renta in Los Angeles 8 years ago, I didn’t really think that far ahead.  My focus was to build that business.  I gained my bride’s trust by working with their budget & timeline and helping them look their absolute best on their wedding day.  The latter was very important, of course, and my time at Oscar de la Renta was an exercise in fittings & alterations.  I was also asked by the company to oversee fittings for their VIP and celebrity clients throughout the year and during awards season.  The Oscar de la Renta client is very discerning since most are very familiar with the couture process, so it was essential to hone that eye for detail.  It wasn’t until my brides started asking me for my styling advice outside of those confines that I entertained the idea of bridal styling on my own.  They needed multiple looks for their wedding festivities, but my opinion could only go so far without it being a conflict of interest.  After much thought and consideration, I left to launch John Dolio Studio 4 years ago.  Two months later, I get a call from a recruiter to take on bridal at Carolina Herrera in Beverly Hills.   I did that temporarily, but it was necessary for my experience and this journey.  

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There are very few bridal stylists and as niche as it sounds, there is demand for it. Bridal styling is a completely different beast from fashion or editorial styling though I am starting to do more of the latter.  You’re creating and building a fashion narrative for one of the most special moments in somebody’s life. It’s fueled by emotion. This requires timing, patience, and absorbing a lot of the anxiety. I had a lot of experience in putting out fires during my time at Oscar de la Renta.  I’m also very decisive.  A new bride will typically reach out to me about a year out from their wedding.  We’ll have an initial meeting to discuss the details – I like to know their wedding date & venue immediately.   This way I can envision fabric and silhouette from the start.  Then I schedule appointments with the boutiques and designers.  I pretty much know after the 3^rd or 4^th dress but I still want my bride to go through the motions, compare quality of construction, and, most importantly,  get the vibe of each boutique and designer.   The months in between appointments and fittings are when we start to bounce off ideas regarding accessories.  We’ll also start to try on options for their rehearsal dinner and/or after-party looks.   About two months prior to their wedding date is when we start the first of 3-4 fittings.  My role is to not only coordinate these dates for all parties involved but to also be present in ensuring every detail is addressed – the hem, contouring the bust, the style of bustle, to adding an inner belt inside the bustier.  I’ve also done custom gowns for brides, and that requires much more time and many more fittings!  The most important part, in my opinion, is alterations and I’m fortunate to work with the best tailors & seamstresses in town.   Sometimes, if my schedule permits, I will do the day-of service for my brides & clients.  This might be the most intense part of my work because there are so many moving parts, so many emotions.   In one recent wedding, my assistant and I prepared over 30 looks for the entire wedding party.  I was running around between the bridal and groom’s suite in preparation for the photos and the ceremony.   Not only am I working directly with the bride but also with the photographer, videographer, hair & makeup, as well as the event planner.   The day is not done until I’ve bustled the gown for the reception.  Sometimes I stay later into the night for the after-party  dress change.  

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a best friend was visiting me in Los Angeles, I would take them to Chateau Marmont for dinner & drinks.  It’s very much my vibe – quintessentially “LA,” chic & moody.  Equal parts celebrity, fashion, and questionable money.  If it falls on the right weekend, we will dance and have more drinks at Giorgios late into the night.  My favorite brunch in LA is at Republique so I would add that to the itinerary to soak up all the cocktails from the night before.  I’m not the type to go to art galleries and museums, honestly, but I do like to sit at cafes. I’ve started to revisit my old haunt from my 20’s and that is Figaro Bistro in Los Feliz. It’s great place to sit outside and people watch.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Meagan Kong is a former bride who happens to be a professional dancer, choreographer, & creator of Kong Fit Club.  Out first meeting was completely fortuitous, but we hit it off from the start – or at least on my end.  I have started taking her dance classes and it has been the absolute best in terms of workout and for my general spirit.  She is so motivational, and her energy is infectious.   I’ve been known to take her class to cure a hangover.

Website: www.johndolio.com

Instagram: johndoliostudio

Image Credits
Molly McCauley, Nikki Dalonzo (cre8cure8)