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Dominicana Moda – Fashion Week – Day 4 with Jean Paul Gaultier!

Dominicana Moda – Fashion Week – Day 4 with Jean Paul Gaultier! 1170 762 Galia Brener

 

 

Today was the first day that I woke up full of energy and élan. Either the jet lag was finally fading away, or my body subconsciously knew that tonight was the big night! Jean Paul Gaultier – my idol – was showing his collection. I have been waiting for this day for over half a year now. I even woke up one hour before my alarm, which is very untypical for me, because I love to get my sleep whenever I can. But today was a very special day. I jumped out of the warm and cozy bed, tried my new Colgate whitening tooth paste to upkeep my bleached teeth, ate some fat-killing passion fruit and started my day.

 

I could tell that there were already many people at the hotel because the wifi became excruciatingly nonexistent. But being the high-tech survivor nerd that I am, I discovered one little secret place in the hotel, where the wifi works as fast as the speed of light. I went to hide in my little wifi time machine and uploaded some photos and articles for you. Then I met the team at the restaurant – of course they chose the table directly beside Jean Paul Gaultier’s male models! In order to calm down and not freak out with excitement the entire day, I had to jump into the huge pool and swim many laps. I spotted a man peculiarly similar looking to Richard Branson on a lounge chair beside me. Could it have been him? It might have been in a different lifetime, if he wasn’t loaded with a double belly! I laughed to myself and continued writing with frenzy on my laptop. I realized that working at the pool in the Caribbean weather was not such a bad way to get some work done.

 

The tick tock of the clock reminded me that the time was pushing closer to the event. We were very lucky because we were allowed to be at the Garden Tent with Jean Paul Gaultier, while he was rehearsing with the models. We knew what the show and music would be like before everyone else did. I ran up from the pool, took a nice long relaxing shower, made my wavy hair straight, put on my favorite makeup (Peter Thomas Roth CC cream and Mac highlighter for that flawless glowing look, light smokey eyes and pink juicy lips), threw on my favorite black and white dress with my Byblos pumps, grabbed my front row ticket and made my way out. I met Jens and Nina and we went inside the tent, where Mr. Gaultier was already in full swing – chatting, laughing, dancing, organizing and guiding the models. He’s a man of visions and action, and hence likes to do many of the duties by himself. There was one funny moment where Mr. Gaultier stopped the show and told the models to kiss. He said this is such a funny and cute way. (See the video on my YouTube channel).

 

I have to mention here how amazingly down to earth, warm, sincere, funny and kind Mr. Gaultier is! Usually designers like to keep their show a mystery and are not happy with many people hanging around before the show and especially not directly around the runway during rehearsals. He waned to have us around him, and didn’t mind at all when we asked a hundred questions and made a thousand photos. He was very patient with everyone. I respect that so much about him. He was so cool, calm and collected – and this an hour before the highly anticipated show! Bravo Mr. Gaultier, another great reason why you are my fashion idol! Jens got a chance to have a nice interview with him, and I ran around being the curious monkey that I am – gathering information, images and memories of this wonderful experience. The press people made a circle around JPG and everyone wanted to have a piece of him. I sat at the front row, admiring the atmosphere. I was in fashion heaven! It was funny because I kept running Jens’s videos with my loud excited comments beside him. Thankfully my chatter is not to be heard on the video they showed on the VOX Prominent show – a famous German TV show about celebrities. Needless to say, I look like a cartoon CIA agent, hanging beside Mr. Gaultier on the video. Don’t ask! ;-) (Video on my YouTube Channel).

 

Out of fun for my love and relationship column, I asked Mr. Gaultier if he believes in true love. His exact answer was, “I believe only in love. Even real, or not real, or not true and true, I don’t care. Love is the most important thing!” He was laughing while answering my question and that me laugh back. I was very happy to know that the magnetic and bright man still believes in love! (See this video also on my YouTube channel). The time was running and it was dangerously close to the beginning of the show. Mr. Gaultier gave me a wink and quickly left backstage. I took my fabulous seat at the front row and waited for the guests to arrive. It was great to see what everyone was wearing in Santo Domingo to such a glamorous event. Miss France was one of the models at the show and even the Dominican Republic president’s wife was there – sitting a few seats away from me. The women were all dolled up and chic to the bone! The men were proud to accompany them. It was like a scene from a Gatsby party. Then suddenly the lights went out and a traditional Scottish bagpipe sound mixed with an electronic beat shook the tent. I didn’t know what to expect, but as soon as the first model came out, I was ecstatic to see that it was the famous JPG wild style that I love so much! The only way for me to describe the collection is: “A classy and posh French underground fashion gang meeting up in a dark corridor and making their way to the Mad Hatter’s New Year’s Eve Tea with Absinthe Party!” If you have no clue what I mean by this sentence, please take a look at the photos of the collection below. I loved every single piece! My favorite one was the stripped long dress at the very end of the show, with a large black rounded apron in the front, and a huge black bow in the back. I would even wear that wild dress to my wedding – so creative, unusual, sexy, feminine and unforgettable! Once again, Jean Paul Gaultier managed to lift me off my feet and fly me away to his imaginary land of couture magic. At the end of the show, he came out dancing onto the runway and got a standing ovation. Everyone in the room was standing for him and he rightfully deserved every single clap!

 

After the show, we went backstage to congratulate Mr. Gaultier. We chatted a bit and then allowed him to take a breath of fresh air after his exciting day. We went to the after-party, where the VIP guests couldn’t stop talking about the incredible show. Everyone had the same opinion: this collection was a brilliant masterpiece. I agreed! The music was hypnotizing and the champagne was flowing. I felt like a little girl high on too much sugar. It was such a huge honor for me to be a part of this exciting event. I didn’t know what, where, when or why, but all I knew is that I haven’t been this happy in years! It was a big jump forward for me and my blog. I felt that this was the wonderful next step in the ladder of my career. The Dominicana Moda was over with a big bang! This was definitely my favorite show of the entire fashion week. JPG knows how to entertain the people and keep everyone on their toes. I made my way back to the room, prepared my tired self for bed and jumped in between the crisp sheets. With a satisfied and joyous feeling, I closed my eyes, let my mind drift back to the thrilling events of the day and fell asleep with a soft smile on my lips.

 

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The Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Show

 

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Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 3

Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 3 1200 400 Galia Brener

As I opened up my eyes, the sunbeams were dancing on my face. I couldn’t help but smile, knowing where I am and my couture mission for this amazing event. I jumped up, knowing that I have some spare time this morning to enjoy the fabulous Occidental Hotel pool and wellness area. I ate my healthy breakfast – carb free again – only scrambled eggs, a local delicious sausage and some fresh fruit. I remember coming to Puerto Plata with my parents in the 90s, and the trend back then was to eat a fresh passion fruit directly after a meal. This was supposed to turbo-charge the digestion. I laughed at this silly little blast from the past memory, ate my passion fruit like a good girl, and made my way to the chic pool area.

 

The first thing I saw was the super cool Jean Paul Gaultier, walking back from the Garden Tent, fully clad in black and followed by 5 men – all eager to fulfill his every wish and command. I thanked him again for the wonderful drawing that he made on my phone cover. Mr. Gaultier smiles and asked if I will make it to his show tomorrow evening. I gave him the brightest and biggest grin that I have and told him that I wouldn’t miss it for the world! I was in 7th Heaven – imagine, Mr. Fashion himself asking me if I will attend his show! That’s an honor beyond believe for me! With a small skip to my step, I took off my Blumarine summer dress and jumped into the pool, refreshing myself with a cold shiver of excitement!

 

After swimming a few laps in a mini attempt to do some sports, it was time to change and make ourselves look sexy for the fashion shows. Again I didn’t know what will be presented, so each individual show was like unpacking a surprise suitcase that was replaced with yours at the airport! I found the Istituto Marangoni – Warrior Show to be quite interesting. It was a show displaying the works of their best fashion students from Shanghai, Milano, Paris and London. If this was a small glance into our future designers, then I can say that we have something unique and wild to look forward to! True to its name, the warrior show started off with a collection that one would imagine a futuristic army on Mars wearing. Next came some feminine cuts, ethno styles and a wicked warrior meets ballerina look! Most of these designs were probably too crazy for the mass public to wear, but I would definitely sport a few in good old-school Europe, to shock people and see their reactions! Provocation can be a really fun and exciting thing.

 

We worked up a nice appetite after the show and had a lovely long dinner. The Dominican people definitely like their meat, so we joined in on their festivities and savored their delicacies. People were moving around from place to place and one could hear the deep house beats from the different after party locations. What a rush! There was lots of energy and dancing around us.

 

Next up were Guerrero and Budet, who threw bright colors directly into our thirsty eyes. Now I understand even better what Jean Paul Gaultier was saying about the colors here. Not only is the nature so colorful and beautiful here, but people also design and wear really bright colors too! It’s like a breath of fresh air to me, because I have gotten so used to the black, natural and gray shades of Europe. I enjoyed looking at the extravagantly colorful and flowing ball gowns. It would be definitely fun wearing something like that to the Sport Press Ball or La Scala – believe me, nobody would ever forget you! Now that we were definitely awake, the male models started coming out in funky-printed swim shorts. Who can complain about tall, handsome, exotic and muscular men walking around in tight shorts? Now that’s what I call the sweet advantages of sitting in the front row – up close and personal!

 

Last but not least was the Moisés Quesada show. It was an interesting concept because the entire length of the runway was filled with glass tables, vases, flowers, cutlery, dishes, flutes and other interesting home accessories. The setup allowed the models to walk around the entire runway. The collection was small but tight. Less is more – I always say rather a smaller collection but with killer pieces! And that’s what Quesada did. He played a lot with black, white and red this season. The designs were form fitting, very feminine and some fully see-through. The models looked like live man-eaters, and it felt like being in the middle of a secret vampire meeting. His Pièce de résistance was a long white wedding dress that came out at the very end. What a fitting and innocent ending to a dark and intriguing tale! The vampires left the room, the lights came on and the show was over. My jet lag was not loosening its tight grip on me. In fact, it was possessing me from the inside out. While everyone made their way to the loud and lavish after-show party, I only had dirty thoughts of my skin caressing the cold crisp bed sheets. Besides, tomorrow was the big day! The last day of the Dominicana Moda, and the evening of Jean Paul Gaultier’s long-awaited fashion show! I wanted to look well rested and fabulous for his amazing event! I bid my team farewell and disappeared into the gold-mirrored elevator.

 

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Istituto Marangoni – Warrior Show

 

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Guerrero and Budet show

 

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Moisés Quesada show

 

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Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 2

Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 2 1200 400 Galia Brener

After having a delicious and carb-free breakfast, I put on my bright red dress, favorites bbi Ibiza espadrilles, lucky Chanel bag and made my way to meet the team at reception. On my way out, I noted how beautiful and elegant the swimming pool area looks at the Occidental Hotel, so I made a note to myself to spend a bit of time there before the fashion shows tomorrow. A little swimming and wellness time is necessary for the mind, body, soul and creativity. Taking care of my health is important especially during long international trips and events.

 

We jumped into our tour car and set off to see the beautiful Santo Domingo. Our guide told us that the population here is 3 million people and it’s quite a cosmopolitan city. The driver indulged us with a nice drive along the open sea. Not only was it mesmerizing, but it was also like vitamin C to my brain and eyes. Right across the water was a promenade lined with 5-star hotels hosting casinos and merengue bars.

 

We stopped at Santo Domingo’s old town, build around 1502. We were shown the beautiful Alcazar – which was Columbus’s family palace. We also saw the Plaza De Espana, Calle Las Damas, restaurant boulevard, various cathedrals and churches. A group of school children walked by, smiled and waved at us. Our guide told us that the best thing about his country are the people! They are warm, friendly and caring. He said that they live by a very important rule: when they leave the house, they leave their problems at home. When going out, life is fabulous, fun and easy. This way they live longer and have more peace at heart. I really like this philosophy of life and will try to do the same. After visiting tradition Dominican fashion stores and the biggest cigar humidor I have ever seen, it was time to eat something delicious at the Travesias by Chef Tita – and then get ready for the press conference with Jean Paul Gaultier. But what does one wear to meet the master of fashion himself?!

 

We arrived at the hotel 5 minutes before the press conference, so you can imagine how stressful it was. I just had enough time to run upstairs, change into my jungle silk Lavant dress, throw on my gold/brown Jimmy Choos and fasten my vintage Moschino key belt around my waist. There was no time to wash my face or even apply makeup. Oh well, I’d have to meet the master au naturel. I rushed to the hotel ballroom and took the place directly in front of the stage. As soon as I heard people screaming and talking loud with excitement, I knew that he had arrived! Jean Paul Gaultier made an extremely good and down-to-Earth impression on me. He was honest and answered all of the questions in a funny and sincere way. It was amazing to see my fashion idol live in person directly in front of me!

 

I asked him what he finds special about this event and he said the beautiful Dominican people and the amazing vibe. Everyone is so happy here. He said that the vibrant colors here are very inspirational to him. He also spoke of his charity work with the hospitals and helping fight racism. We chatted a bit and made a few cute photos. Then my absolute highlife of the day happened. I asked Mr. Gaultier to autograph my phone cover and he said, “With pleasure, but I have a better idea Galia!” Then in the middle of the stage with all of the people swarming around us, he took the time and drew a nice sketch for me directly on my phone cover! I was so overwhelmed by his gesture and patience. He saw in my eyes that it made me so happy, and to top it off, he gave me a hug and said, “Enchanté Galia!”, I felt like a star-struck teenager. Jens Prewo was interviewing Mr. Gaultier for RTL Exklusiv – a popular German celebrity TV show – and after that he interviewed me as well about my opinion of the event, JPG and the entire atmosphere. I haven’t been this excited in years!

 

Again we had a few minutes to run upstairs and change – new show, new outfit! Next up was the long-awaited Camila show. I have heard a lot of good things about her. And true to everything that I’ve been told, the collection was very feminine, with lots of silk and flowing long designs. The main inspiration was the Samurai-like kimono cut. I was highly impressed by Camila’s ability to make this look incredibly soft and feminine, yet at the same time, strong and expressive! It felt like being in the middle of a girl-only martial arts movie-dream, with the actresses walking down the runway, exposing their inner femme fatale strength to the world. Next up was the Jusef Sánchez show. This was unique because the show started with a DJ scratching live directly on the runway – so you can imagine the sheet energy and vibe in the Garden Tent! Sánchez’s creations were rock-chic-inspired with bright color pieces mixed up with my favorite black and white look. We saw long designs made of feather-light silk material, flowing so lightly that would make any ocean wave green with envy! My absolute favorite thing was his mix of a pant leg, short leg and half skirt all in one piece of clothing! I know, sounds crazy, but look at the photos below. This is definitely something I would wear to the Ibiza openings next spring 2016 – especially the white outfit! It’s unlike anything that I have seen before and definitely not something anyone would forget seeing you in. I wouldn’t wear it to the Vienna Opera Ball, but definitely on a special occasion where I would want to make a stylish, unique and unforgettable impression… dare to be bold!

 

The clock struck midnight and like magic, my biological rhythm was reminding me that I have a very intimate date with my pillow upstairs. Today was probably one of the coolest days of my life. So many unforgettable and happy emotions! Now it was time disappear into the night and reappear again tomorrow – fresh and ready for the next adventurous day on our Dominican escapade!

 

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Santo Domingo old city

 

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Jean Paul Gaultier

 

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Fashion shows

 

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Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 1

Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 1 1200 400 Galia Brener

Finally the day had arrived and it was time to make our way to the airport. I was that my very good friend Jens Prewo was coming to this fashion week as well. He’s a celebrity and lifestyle reporter for RTL, which is a popular TV channel in Germany. At the airport, we meet up with the glamorous Petra Cruz, who is the European Director of the Dominican Republic Tourism Board, along with the other bloggers.

 

Due to my crazy work schedule the weeks before, I have accumulated enough fatigue to knock me out for most of the flight to Santo Domingo. Of course only to wake up punctually in between for meals and drinks. How does my body and subconscious mind always know when food will be served? The flight seemed to be quite short, considering that we flew across the Atlantic Ocean. The landing was one of the smoothest that I’ve had so far on a long-distance flight!

 

As we stepped out of the airport, the hot air punched me in the face like a heavyweight-boxing champion. It was a fabulous high-on-heat feeling, which makes you giddy with joy, knowing that you got to chase summer for one last week this year! The 30 degrees wrapped me in their warm and comforting arms, cuddling me with the soothing sensation on my face and in my lungs. I’m a person that enjoys both summer and winter very much, however at this very second, I was overjoyed to have the summer sticking to my skin. I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, felt a little shudder running through my entire body and stepped into the VIP shuttle that was taking us to our chic hotel.

 

As we arrived, we couldn’t help by notice how many people were running around the lobby, excited to be part of the posh Dominicana Moda. I checked in and went up for a quick make up fix and a change into my favorite gold Alaïa skirt. I met the rest of my group at the restaurant and we had a quick dinner before the first show.

 

The people were lining up and gathering around from all directions in front of the infamous Garden Tent – or otherwise known as the “Salón de Desfiles – Oscar de la Renta”. The women were dressed in tight, short dresses and high heels. I was pleased to see how incredible feminine they all looked. The difference to the European fashion and women was very obvious. The commotion was slowly starting and some women were pushing everyone from behind, desperately wanting to get in. I stayed cool, holding tightly onto my front row ticket. Finally the doors opened and everyone was excited to see the Azar Y Alvarez show! I didn’t know what to expect. I purposely did not search the designers online ahead of time, so that I can be pleasantly surprised or shocked with what I see on the runway! The house beat started to vibrate the entire tent and the first model came out.

 

I was blown away by the sheer color and vibrancy of the collection! The man sitting beside me told me that these colors and fabrics were the style of the traditional Dominican Republic clothing. It reminded me of my favorite hippie store in Ibiza that sells bags and dresses in such similar fabrics. Now I know where it comes from! I fell in love with a lavish white outfit that was made up of a long white maxi skirt and cropped top to match. I could definitely see myself wearing it. This white sensation made me think of a happy-hippie-bride, running away with her Fiancé to a place where they can be alone and make love.

 

The colors came pouring out from the backstage and some pieces were quite extravagant, receiving applause from the guests. It was a very large collection and a perfect way to start off the Dominicana Moda fashion week for me. Loud and colorful! The show ended and I realized that I have been awake for exactly 24 hours now. It was time to go back to my room with a large bed in the middle, made to fit a queen. I closed my eyes and smiled… looking forward to our next day in this hot paradise.

 

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