Andrea Jovine: Back in the Fashion Game

Andrea Jovine Back in the Fashion Game
After five years of devoting her creative energies to interior design, gardening and family, she was enticed back to the playing field for what could be the best reason of all: "I became the consumer, and I had a hard time finding clothes that fit me."

That switch in roles "gave me a completely different perspective," she said.

Of course, she didn't jump back into the business just to design clothes for herself. It was to design for women such as herself. Women who appreciate the ease and comfort of modern knit dressing, whether it be a red trench coat or a print jacket with velvet trim.

"There was still a void in the market for knitwear, which is the bulk of the business," Jovine said. "The only reason to come back was if there was a need, and apparently, there was a void in what I do."

In fall 2003, Jovine relaunched her collection, keeping her signature knits but focusing on pattern, novelty and texture. Extra attention is given to details -- seaming that gives a jacket more shape, faux fur trim on a sweater, reversible jackets, pattern linings, velvet trim.

She also mixes in other fabrications, such as a charmeuse blouse for those times when women don't want to wear knit head to toe.

"It's still about real dressing," Jovine said.

Her collection is available at Dillard's in Penn Square Mall, with