Malene Grotrian, a Vancouver based fashion designer, is known worldwide for her designs. She grew up in Denmark and started her fashion line while still in school in Denmark. She started by making bustiers for a store in Denmark and today bustiers are the signature piece for the Malene Grotrian collection. Malene has styled people for many events including the 2010 Leo Awards in Vancouver. In March 2009 Malene had the opportunity to do a fashion show at Vancouver fashion week. In September 2009, Malene had the lifetime opportunity to showcase her collection at New York Fashion Week.
Having worked with a diversity of women she has worked with women of different shapes and sizes. So, ever BE magazine talked with Malene about the average dress size of women being a 12-14, and about her definition of beauty.
Fact is that the average dress size of women is 12-14. This fact is not well known in society because people are often surrounded by advertisements that feature images of models that are between sizes 0-6. Also, most runway fashion models range from a size 0-6. With people being surrounded with such images and messages, could it be that, when it comes to believing that the ideal size of women should be between 0-6, women may be mixed up of what reality versus fantasy is – Reality being the average everyday woman and the fantasy being the runway model.
ever BE magazine asks if Malene believes there may be mix up between fantasy and reality in regards to the ideal dress size of women. Malene says that, “Absolutely there is a mix up in regards to that as the ideal. There’s nothing more wrong, in my mind, for a woman to think there’s something wrong with her body or her image. In my mind there’s nothing sexier, flattering, and eye catching than a confident woman, no matter what her size is.” Malene says, that women should embrace their size, height, and be confident.” Malene says, that she tells her clients that, “it’s not the size two or size four or eight or ten that’s ideal, it’s who you are and what flatters you and we work from that.”
Malene tells ever BE a story about a woman who came into her studio and who needed an evening gown to wear to an event. Malene says, “The woman had to convince herself to be there, but by the end of the night she was so excited and happy. She’d seen something else within herself. Which was what meant something.” Malene continues to say, “You know it’s not about me trying to make her wear my things, it’s about her finding who she is and who she wants to be.” The great thing about Maelene is that, not only is she a fashion designer, but she says she, “Personally love to see women grow.” And this is evident is her ability to make all women feel confident, special, and beautiful when working with them. When Malene sees her client’s confidence shine through when they put her clothes on she says she “realizes that the clothes aren’t important but it’s the feeling that they create inside.”
Often as women we focus too much on the rules of how to dress and focus too much on how other people will judge us. Malene told ever BE about a stylist who was giving a speech to a room full of women on how to dress and how to accessorize. Malene says, “After he was done giving all the rules of how to dress, all the women were like, okay, I’ve got that down. They thought they had got all the messages down. Then at the end of his guide to how to dress perfectly, he said the one rule that erases all the other rules is that, if you feel good in whatever you’re wearing then throw out the book of rules because feeling good inside is going to shine beyond anything.” Malene says, “It’s so, true. It all comes from the inside. Starting with just loving who you are and then you can do anything.”
ever BE asks Malene, as a fashion designer what do you hope to see as the ideal image of a woman in the future? Malene says, “I love a woman with curves. And that’s coming from an artistic view. I find it very interesting to look at and I think that is very flattering.” Malene likes the hourglass shape on a woman, she explains, “That means that a woman has a bust, and she does have a booty.” I think that’s the healthiest way to be.” “And that’s my definition of beauty,” says Malene, “a woman with curves – a woman with an hourglass shape.”
Visit www.malenegrotrian.com to see the Malene Grotrian collection
You can find Malene Grotrian designs at the following stores:
Scala Boutique in Victoria, BC
Callidas in Edmonton, AB
Mallory’s in Cloverdale, BC
Crapabble Clothing in Calgary, AB
Blushing Boutique in Vancouver, BC
Flagship Studio Boutique in, Vancouver BC
