Renee Greenstein, a globally acclaimed fashion designer and entrepreneur, developed the most successful clothing brands on QVC in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. The path that the former model turned mogul has laid will be the foundation for many generations to come.
You created a line that was welcoming to all women before it became a trendy thing to do. Why was it so important to you that line was inclusive?
When I started designing, it was so important that my two clothing lines I was designing were inclusive because we are all real women. I was a fit model in New York and I had the luxury to be able to try on clothes from designers or stores and their sizing would only go up to a size 12. Plus sizes weren’t available and if you did find them, they were unattractive, and we all deserve to look and feel good in our clothing. That being said, my desire was to change this and design a line that is inclusive because all women are beautiful and style is not about size, it’s about attitude!
In what ways did your experiences as a model influence your approach to fashion?
I loved modeling but I’ve always been too short to be a runway model, I’m all legs! I began looking more at my body type, I have a short torso but long legs for miles. With that being said, it got me thinking about how I’m not the only person with body issues that are not LIKE the MODELS we see, we are real women who have flaws. Each one different and each one we try to mask instead of embracing them and finding clothes that fit and work with our body type . Whether it be big boobs, a big butt, short neck, long lanky arms, etc. I’m all about girl power and I used these body shape differences to help me design beautiful pieces for all body types.
You have Women with Control and Attitudes by Renee, what are the differences between them?
Women with Control is a bottom centric line that is designed so you will never have to wear a shaper. I did my research and found an amazing fabric that gave women that control and comfort without wearing a shaper underneath. I myself will NEVER wear a shaper because I want to be caressed not compressed. When mother nature started to take over and bring everything down, this is when I knew I needed to design clothing that would uplift and create no more wiggle, no more jiggle no matter what your sizing is. . Attitudes by Renee is the finishing touch to your outfit. I love to tell women to look in the mirror and look at yourself as a canvas. If you are wearing a great pair of pants or a skirt, how will you finish off the top of your outfit. This is where Attitudes by Renee comes in.
As a woman of color, what challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
Since I was young, I was brought up in a society to be socially prejudiced, not racially prejudiced. I was a Jewish girl brought up Orthodox, I am colorful and my complexion is dark. Here’s a funny story for you: I went to join a temple that my girlfriend’s parents belonged to out in Long Island, NY. I walked in late one time, and her whole family knew. I had asked my girlfriend how they knew, and my friend stated “well Renee we can’t miss you”. It can be a disadvantage or an advantage. I had to quickly overcome that I couldn’t just hide in a corner and be a wallflower. They always tell girls that they have to be better at what they do, but being black and a Jewish girl, I had to be even better than everyone else. But I learned this and used it to my advantage.
Not only are you a successful entrepreneur, you have devoted a lot to empower others, especially women. What inspires you to do so?
I love to empower others because I want every woman, from a little girl, to a grown adult, to know that she is capable of doing anything. That saying “break the glass ceiling” didn’t come from nowhere. It’s all about girl power ladies, I mean a multicultural woman is running the Miami Marlins! I want that little girl on Wall Street, facing the bull, to say oh no I can do it too!
What would you say has been the biggest lesson you have learned since launching your line?
Do not get discouraged! It is very difficult to go into a business, to use your own money, family time goes on the backburner, then not being able to do self-care things as you once did is hard. It’s about making those sacrifices to be in business but the rewards and the satisfaction you get as you achieve your dream and goals make it all worthwhile.
On your website, your brand was founded by your belief that Style is not about size, it’s about attitude. Please explain.
Look in a mirror. We are all different sizes and shapes. We are all beautiful in our own way so that’s why style is not about size, it’s about attitude. So, when you put something on, and it looks good and feels good, you straighten up, and this is a proven philosophy, and you feel that attitude! Not a negative attitude but a positive attitude of feeling good in your own skin.
Music and fashion go hand-in-hand, name some of the artists you currently enjoy.
Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, Patti LeBelle, Ben Platt, Pavarotti. From classical, to Miles Davis, to pop. I love to dance! And the thing is, if you don’t feel good and comfortable in your clothes then you can’t get down ladies!
For more information, visit https://reneegreenstein.com/
BE’N ORIGINAL
