5 minutes with Marie Saint Pierre
Montreal’s Queen of Fashion has a one-of-a-kind style that’s recognizable from coast to coast. Since starting her eponymous collection nearly 25 years ago, Marie Saint Pierre (mariesaintpierre.com) has opened two boutiques and caught the attention of countless fashion lovers. Here, she talks about her latest project: a holiday capsule collection for Reitmans, the tried-and-true Canadian retailer.
What’s the scoop on your collaboration with Reitmans?
“It’s a collection of 10 dresses. We wanted to create [pieces] that women would really love—with style but also very wearable and flattering to different figure types—from petites to plus sizes. Affordability was another factor: Each dress sells for under $100.”
How would you describe the style of this capsule line?
“It’s very much in keeping with my own aesthetic. Many fabrics have a stretch quality, so there is ease and comfort. There are details, such as a detachable metal collar, that can change the look.”
You recently did a renovation at your de la Montagne Street store. What’s new?
“We needed to redefine the space due to the constantly growing collections and our new lines, including accessories, perfume, wedding, classics and home.”
What is the biggest misunderstanding people have about what you do?
“When I get asked if I still sew all the clothes myself, I realize that not many people understand how it all works. There are more than 50 people working full-time. It’s important to me to render fashion accessible, and that’s why I created Les Carnets de Marie, a blog that offers an exclusive look inside my world.”
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://fashionmagazine.com/style/5-minutes-with-marie-saint-pierre/&title=5 minutes with Marie Saint Pierre&picture=https://fashionmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/win12MarieSaintPierre.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_65436" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Photography; left, Marie Saint Pierre for Reitmans, $85 by Carlo Mendoza (styling by Breanna Gow for judyinc.com); right, Marie Saint Pierre by Jane Heller."][/caption]
Montreal’s Queen of Fashion has a one-of-a-kind style that’s recognizable from coast to coast. Since starting her eponymous collection nearly 25 years ago, Marie Saint Pierre (mariesaintpierre.com) has opened two boutiques and caught the attention of countless fashion lovers. Here, she talks about her latest project: a holiday capsule collection for Reitmans, the tried-and-true Canadian retailer.
What’s the scoop on your collaboration with Reitmans?
“It’s a collection of 10 dresses. We wanted to create [pieces] that women would really love—with style but also very wearable and flattering to different figure types—from petites to plus sizes. Affordability was another factor: Each dress sells for under $100.”
How would you describe the style of this capsule line?
“It’s very much in keeping with my own aesthetic. Many fabrics have a stretch quality, so there is ease and comfort. There are details, such as a detachable metal collar, that can change the look.”
You recently did a renovation at your de la Montagne Street store. What’s new?
“We needed to redefine the space due to the constantly growing collections and our new lines, including accessories, perfume, wedding, classics and home.”
What is the biggest misunderstanding people have about what you do?
“When I get asked if I still sew all the clothes myself, I realize that not many people understand how it all works. There are more than 50 people working full-time. It’s important to me to render fashion accessible, and that’s why I created Les Carnets de Marie, a blog that offers an exclusive look inside my world.”){kind=link}