Newton native launches clothing line for 'real women'

She's designed maternity wear for the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts, and trained aspiring designers. Now, Jessica Gold Newman is looking to corner the over-35 fashion market.

Newton native Gold Newman and her business partner, Catherine Doyle, are aiming to give women over-35 a line of classic, high-end ladylike pieces cut for real bodies with their new clothing line Dobbin.

The three-month old clothing line is aiming to fill the void in the fashion market for working women between pieces sold at high-end department stores like Bergdorf Goodman and lines like Stella McCartney, Marni and Jason Wu and those at Talbots, J.Jill and Chicos.

Gold Newman, a 1997 Newton South High School graduate, said she and Doyle thought, Could we do it better?

The line is geared toward working women in a variety of careers looking for clothing that they can wash and wear, Gold Newman said.

Were really inspired by the 60s and 70s very classic chic, she said, describing the line as ageless, classy and sophisticated. We tend to like softness, prettiness rather than full-on work wear.

Gold Newman, who grew up working in retail shops on Needham Street and in Chestnut Hill and later at Louis Boston, said she had a New England and even a Newton customer in mind when she created the line.

As women who value high quality fabric in their own clothing, Gold Newman and Doyle made sure their line is made from the same high-end Italian stretc! h fabric s as designers like Diane Von Furstenberg and Carolina Herrera. But because the line is sold exclusively online at Dobbinclothing.com, the duo is able to cut out the middlemen and sells their clothes for under $200.

I look for quality and I look for fit. I really like to feel the fabric, said Gold Newman. I would rather have less thats better than more that wont last.

The line is produced solely in New York something that after working in the fashion industry in New York, Gold Newman said she values.

Phyllis Misite, the program director at the Newton-based Mount Ida Colleges Fashion Design program, said in an e-mail that the line is as classic as it gets utilizing very simple shapes.

So for the woman that seeks quality, classic clothing that is not fussy regarding fit, Dobbin fits the bill, Misite said, adding that she endorses the womens commitment to producing the line solely in the U.S. and the concept of selling directly to the consumer.

In order to fit what she describes as real women, Gold Newman said styles are based off of a 6/8 size fit model and not the typical 2/4 size designers normally use. The line stays away from low-rise pants, but is careful to avoid what is referred to as mom-jeans, Gold Newman said.

Everyone who wears our clothing says they could wear them all day long, she said.

While Gold Newman said the line is attracting women from 25-70, it is aimed at the over-35 working woman with the hope that the pieces will be the workhorses of her wardrobe. Dobbin is an old English name for workhorse.

Boyle and Gold Newman met while working for Liz Lange Maternity. Boyle was the design director and Gold Newman was marketing director for the brand.

We have skills and experience that compliment one another, Doyle said in an e-mail.

The pair said they hope their business and clothes continue to grow and ev! olve.

Since were brand new we want to reach a lot more women who are interested in quality fabric and fit at a reasonable price, Doyle said in the e-mail adding that they have several trunk shows planned for the fall.

Dobbin clothing is sold online at www.dobbinclothing.com. To reach Jessica Gold Newman for questions on the line email jess@dobbinclothing.com.