Domincana Moda 2009
by Chie Davis

Dominicana Moda gave the other Caribbean islands a run for their money with the seamless presentation of their 2009 show. Over 43 designers from both the Dominican Republic and international locales converged for a weeklong event to showcase their flair for fashion and creative expression. “ The objective of each edition of Dominicana Moda is not only to innovate, if not reformulate," says Socrates McKinney, one of the organizers. And step it up they did. This year’s fourth installment of the distinguished fashion experience not only stimulated the local economy, by allowing designers to showcase their wears for purchase, but also boosted the buzz factor with a key special guest.

Dressed in her signature white, crisp button up shirt, Venezuelan designer Carolina Herrera headlined Dominicana Moda in Santo Domingo with her “Fashion for Help 2009” Collection. Her pieces – colorful, sleek and naturally timeless were received with a warm applause. Herrera also joined Margarita Cedeno, the First Lady of the Dominican Republic (and newly appointed UN Good Will Ambassador) to host a benefit dinner “Hoy es el Mejor Dia,” (Today is the Best Day). The fundraising gala for breast cancer attracted local dignitaries, fashionistas and tastemakers.

With over 30 shows staged at the Hotel Occidental El embajador, both established designers and newcomers from the Dominican Republic made their presence known. Standouts included Hernan Lander, Jacqueline Then and Gutierrez-Marcano. The sophisticated combo of Gutierrez-Marcano displayed a chic collection populated with mini-dresses with draping fabrics, decorated in lace, stone and metal grommets. Playing delightfully with bashful colors like baby pink and vanilla, the models were mannequin like with conformed cuts and dark daring eyes. Hernan Lander wowed the audience with an African inspiration. His showing of Zipppp experimented with earth tones, silk and jersey fabrics with harder industrial zipper like details. A seasoned Dominicana Moda presenter, Jacqueline Then, illustrated her take on a theme that could only be described as retro-futuristic with geometric shaping; her body hugging midnight hued dresses glided down the runway effortlessly.

International designers also sunk their teeth in. They came as far as Chile, Spain, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica, Columbia, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico. Columbian designer Leonisa flirted with delicately daring bikinis while Denis Devaed of Guadelupe also flexed his flower power with gorgeous gowns reminiscent of Betsy Johnson. Other showstoppers included feminine and fluffy dresses from U.S. designer Leanne Marshall and delicious to the last drop liquid gold pieces –showcased from the always clean and classic vision of Trinidad and Tobago favorite, Meiling.

Top models like Arlenis Sosa Pena, Avril Guerrero and Rene Rodriguez were wrangled, to put the cherry on top; making Dominicana Moda 2009 an unforgettable experience.

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