Mealan Boutique || AFW 10/11

Words by Linda Sui Lem
Photography © Faby Martin 2010

For a boutique that opened in the midst of our recession, Mealan has gained a mass of appreciation from Calgary. Its offerings cater to Calgary women and their exquisite taste and it can certainly be said that it is a difficult task for any boutique owner to predict the coming trends.

As orders are made 3-6 months in advance Mealan Mezzarobba, owner and namesake, relies on her intuition and the aid of magazines, also stating that anything brought into the store must be an item she loves and would wear herself. Stepping into her boutique one can tell by the attention to detail in the décor, all the way to the change rooms, the clothing she has chosen completely match in quality.

As Alberta Fashion Week is a showing for designer S/S lines it’s a bit different in the case of boutiques. Clothing is shown in a what’s in-store basis and highlights trends and favourite items of the owner for that season.

Models showcased stylish and wearable items from elegant dresses in classic silhouettes and Madmen trends like full skirts, cinched waists and caped sleeves. Mealan has an impressive collection of jewellery and pieces were perfectly matched to complement the outfits.

Although winter can be a somber time, there is no better way to brighten up a party or event like an Orange one-shouldered cocktail dress or a fuchsia satin dress. A personal favourite on the runway was the beige three-quarter-length top with a lovely black ribbon detailing on the back, matched with some very agreeable khaki green trousers.

Coats were also shown like a cute aqua pea coat and a calf sweeping white coat with military hardware. Mealan has pieces for every woman’s wardrobe and it would be impossible to describe all the wonderful pieces shown on the runway, which included both international and local talent.

Mezzarobba has also invested in some amazing local designers like Caitlin Power and NRT, the latter showing her S/S line on Day 2 of AFW . Her support of local designers is a step in the right direction and assists then in developing their incredible talent.

Often our local talent goes elsewhere to become established and in such a large city it is a shame that we cannot aid our gifted designers. Mealan has given us a taste of what is available in her store and only makes us crave browsing through her fall/winter merchandise even more.