Surrounded in Style
Written by Rebecca Dumais | Photos by Kyle Kirkwood
Julia DeBartolo didn’t just casually waltz directly into the world of costume design and wardrobe styling; there were a couple of forks in the road along the way. Although there was one thing she was always passionate about: competitive dance.
Up until grade 12, her ambition was medical school. But once she found her way to Western University, she pivoted and went on to graduate with a double major in business and political science. “At that point, I thought I was going to go into law,” she says.
The business program’s studies in consumer behaviour and marketing particularly sparked her interest. After graduating, she accompanied her father on a business trip overseas. Before she departed, her then-dance teacher, Joanne Chapman, asked for a favour: to develop and manufacture a costume. “When I tell the story in hindsight, she totally knew what she was doing, but at the time I just thought I was sincerely doing her a favour,” recalls Julia. “It turned out well, and I found manufacturing and finished the costume.”
It turned out so well that Chapman suggested that she start her own business. “I think her stamp of approval at that time was so valuable, because really she’s an industry leader.
“I am so grateful for her, and the first few studios that took a chance on me,” she continues. “One was Frank and Melissa Giorgio of Canadian Dance Unit, who taught me dance as a young child; and I still do costumes for them today.”
In 2014, DeBartolo founded Silver Lining Costume Design, which specializes in recreational and competitive dance costumes. It’s super fun. I love working with kids and bringing a creative vision to life.
The year after starting her costume design company, DeBartolo spent a summer in New York City studying at Parsons School of Design, as a way to gain an understanding of the industry more than the element of design itself. As she explains, “I wanted to make sure that I had the skills and language so I could better lead a team.”
DeBartolo has carved out a niche for herself in costume design. Her specialty is functional, “pedestrian style” costumes, which deliver the look of a suit with the functionality a dancer needs (pants, blazers, vests, and so on designed from a thick neoprene-like material). “I’m known in the dance industry for that.” She also creates more typical costumes for clients ranging from teens to toddlers (think plenty of rhinestones) which, she says, “are adorable.”
Projects usually begin in October or November, with fittings starting in January/February. From design to drop-off, the process takes about three to four months. “Right now I think my final count this year for costumes was over 800,” she says.
Julia designs the costumes, then collaborates with local tailors and seamstresses, one of whom she has worked with ever since her first year in business. “She’s amazing. She’s a wizard. She’s actually one of the few people I know that still draws patterns by hand.”
Costume design, she says, is a somewhat seasonal business that follows the school year. “There was a period of time where I did contract marketing and then odd kind of jobs to fill the summer months. Then someone said, ‘You’re so stylish. You should be a wardrobe stylist.’”
After sending a few cold emails on a Thursday, by Friday she’d landed an assistant stylist job with a Monday start. “I fell in love with it!” she says.
Her commercial wardrobe styling work carries through print and long format. Her client roster includes Canadian Tire, Heinz, Lincoln, Joe Fresh, Hudson’s Bay, Nivea, The Brick, Buick, Tim Hortons, Rogers, Teen Vogue and The Hollywood Reporter.
She also styles for Canadian retired ice dancer Tessa Virtue. The two connected during a photo shoot for MAC Cosmetics Canada. “She’s someone I really admire. She’s always a really fun one to work with.”
DeBartolo describes Virtue’s look as classic and timeless. “I always joke with her whenever I’m working with her that she’s actually my most dangerous person to pull select style elements for, because we have very similar styles. So it’s always ‘one for you, one for me’,” she laughs.
Coming from a family of creative minds and entrepreneurs, DeBartolo revels in being around people who are always pushing themselves to do better. “It inspires me to want to do the same.”
For more information, visit JuliaDeBartolo.com | SilverLiningCostumeDesign.com
