Ann and Kathy, a trip down memory lane
“This is where I took my first steps in fashion when I was just 16 years old,” says Kathy. My aunt owned a boutique that sold Rosie's—the predecessor of Marie Méro. She knew my dream was to model, and thanks to her intervention, I was given a tryout with Paula. It was a success, and I stayed working there for another 12 years. I've practically become family. Back then, the collection presentations were still held at Paula and Jean's house. The furniture in the living room was pushed aside during the sales period, and customers came to buy every Saturday and Sunday. They were large collections; as models, we constantly had to change outfits. There was a homey atmosphere, and customers loved coming to buy. Orders were still recorded by hand back then; it was so busy that we often had to help out to keep everything moving. Ruben and Steven were still toddlers. They sat quietly in their pajamas under the kitchen table, watching all the activity. It's incredible that now, 38 years later, they run the business themselves.
2021 vs. the early years: left in the photo, Ann - right, Kathy
Rosie's was a great start to my modeling career. Shortly after, I signed up with a Brussels modeling agency. I walked in major shows, including at Textirama and international trade fairs. Those were the golden years of fashion. It was the birth of the Antwerp Six, there was a huge interest in fashion, and my schedule was always full of assignments. There was a fashion show in every parish hall or cultural center in every village. The hall was always packed. For many people, that fashion show was the event of the season. A show lasted an hour and a half. People were very curious about the new trends. Social media didn't exist back then. Now, the public sees the collections long before they hit the stores. That air of mystery surrounding fashion is gone, which I think is a shame.
Once you're in the fashion world, you can't escape it. It's one big family where lifelong friendships are formed. I even met my husband 30 years ago while I was still modeling, at a show in Germany. After the birth of our first child, I stopped modeling, but I always continued working behind the scenes, first for Tony Houston, who organized fashion events, and later for my husband's company, which specialized in lighting for major fashion events and concerts at home and abroad, such as shows for Dries Van Noten and Chanel.
"Sister in crime" Ann Van Vooren, like Marie Méro, has her roots in Aalter. "I came from the fashion world; my parents had their own fashion company in Aalter. The business closed after my father died in an accident when I was still a child. At 18, I entered the modeling competition "Devenir Mannequin" and was a finalist. I was able to start modeling right away; it felt a bit like coming home. When I look at our old catalogs, I'm struck by how natural we were. We wore very little makeup, and there was no photoshop. You saw the person behind the model. It's amazing that Jean took his own photos back then; they looked very professional. I also have a flashback regarding the trends: checks and stripes are totally back, but presented in a different way."
Kathy and I worked together at Rosie's for a long time. It was intense but enjoyable. As a model, you put a lot of energy into it, you empathize with your clients, and you want the collection to sell well. Every link in the chain is important. Paula and Jean are wonderful people. Paula is a real mother hen. We had to work, but she also made sure we had a delicious meal on time and got home safely.
The Van de Elst family also sets the bar high for itself; the brand is known for its quality, service and good fits.
All these years later, I find the company has remained very true to its DNA. The name has changed, but the values remain.
It's tempting in fashion to hop from one hype to the next, but that's short-term politics. Staying true to yourself is the best policy. I think it's fantastic that this company is still on the map after 50 years, and that the second generation is securing its future.
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