Lately, Jacqueline DiPietro has been calling herself “the dress diva.”

THE DRESS DIVA: Jacqueline DiPietro, works with designers such as Tina Di Martina, Jovani, Stephen Yearick and Sherri Hill to select each of the gowns she carries in her boutique.

SEVENTEEN AGAIN: In addition to women’s dresses, DiPietro has selections for younger shoppers searching for prom, sweet 16 or Bat Mitzvah dresses.

“Dresses have just become an all-consuming thing for me,” says the Short Hills resident. “Which I love.”

Four years ago, after an extensive career in the retail industry as both a buyer and merchandiser, DiPietro decided to showcase her creative flair by opening an eponymous boutique in Livingston, just five minutes from home.

As the sole proprietor, DiPietro works directly with designers to select the
products she offers—from cocktail dresses to gowns, day or evening, short or long, formal or casual.

With a large range of prices, sizes and styles, DiPietro says she caters to all kinds of requests, “from ‘I need a cocktail dress to wear tomorrow night’ to ‘my daughter is getting married nine months from now and I need a gown.’”

Though not necessary, appointments are recommended, as DiPietro and her stylists work one-on-one with clients to make each shopping experience stress-free. Customers can buy off-the-rack, order a style or size not currently in stock or special-order a custom designer-made dress tailored to their specific measurements and needs. In addition, Jacqueline’s in-house seamstresses, with more than 60 years of combined experience, can custom-design jackets and shawls and perform alterations.

“I want to satisfy the needs of even the most discriminating customer,” says DiPietro.

The boutique’s website allows Jacqueline to showcases its vendors for customers who live outside of the immediate area. The beauty of her online store though, says DiPietro, is that it is backed by her brick-and-mortar boutique. “So it’s not just somebody in their house in their bed in their pajamas,” she says. “You get that same level of customer service.”