Calgary: Magical Mealan
Mealan Mezzarobba’s earliest childhood shopping memory entails walking over a whimsical bridge into a land of sugar-coated candies and lollies. For those Calgarians who aren’t afraid to date themselves, you might recall a little gem called Heffalumps and Woozles, an upscale children’s store once located in Mount Royal Village. That very store inspired Mezzarobba’s fashionable future.
It’s no wonder she added a dash of capricious enchantment and fanciful ambiance when opening the doors to her eponymous boutique (1518 4th St., S.W., 403-457-4020) just over a month ago. Mealan’s shelves are chock full of designer wares from all over the fashion map: New York’s Susana Monaco (susanamonaco.com), Holly Morgan out of L.A. (hollymorgandesigns.com) and the Bangkok label Srtesis (sretsis.com), to name a few. Requesting exclusivity from designers is one way Mezzarobba sets her shop apart, providing clients with unique and well-crafted garments they won’t find anywhere else.
With price points that range from $65 to $600, Mealan is a store that can charm the little girl in all of us. And, the best part is, Mezzarobba’s not afraid to expose her sweet tooth, with deep dishes of decadent sweets at every turn (a cue from Heffalumps and Woozles). Sugar high aside, with all the tantalizing texture, designs and decadent jewellery you simply can’t help but feel like a kid in a candy store.