VFW Day 3: Malene Grotrian

Note: This post is also cross-posted at Stylefinds, where you'll find comprehensive VFW coverage!



Some designers design for waifs; Malene Grotrian designs clothes for women. This was evident on Saturday evening at VFW when Malene presented her F/W 09 collection of flowing garments and signature bustiers, all made from sumptuous Italian fabrics. These were clothes meant to hide "wobbly bits," flatter the female form, and enhance an hourglass figure.



There were so many covetable mix-and-match pieces that could be combined to create unique evening looks: a flowing trouser, a halter top with off-the-shoulder details, batwing dresses in multiple fabrications or with a lapel, slinky fishtail hem dresses, a full-bodied black skirt reminiscent of Dior's New Look. These looks were styled with jewelry by Justine Brooks. (That's Justine's necklace in the first picture--peacock feathers encased in windows made of diamond-shaped sterling silver and glass.) My personal favourites included a white high-waisted skirt and strapless black lace top (think Grace Kelly in Rear Window) and a black wool sheath with white embroidered roses.




Malene's signature piece is the bustier, as I mentioned in this post. In her F/W collection, it was interesting to see her push the possibilities of this garment beyond the strapless versions most of us are used to seeing. The halter tops with off-the-shoulder detailing featured metal boning, as did the high-waisted skirts.



The highlight of the show was surely the full-length ballgown skirts. I asked Malene afterwards if there was a hoop skirt underneath, and she explained that it was all done with tulle. That would explain how these skirts seemed to glide down the runway and move with the models.




All photos by Yvonne Chew. Thanks Yvonne!