Since Juan Avellaneda started in fashion he had a dream: to be able to hold a fashion show like the ones that took place in Paris in the 1950s. At that time, the big haute couture brands brought together their clients at an exclusive event in which they showed the new collection while having a snack of tea, champagne and macarons. “I had always dreamed of holding a parade like this. I don't like massive parades, nor shows on a catwalk, I prefer something more intimate in which the client feels very cared for,” says Juan Avellaneda shortly before making his dream come true.
On Wednesday afternoon, the renowned Barcelona designer gathered almost a hundred guests, including clients, friends, family and influencers, to present the new collections. The interior terrace of the Cotton House hotel, on Barcelona's Gran Vía, was the setting chosen to “reflect my universe and the brand's philosophy.” On the little tables where the guests were distributed there were bouquets of flowers, aromatic candles, tea, macarons, croisants, water and cava (Vilardell) with the label designed by Avellaneda.
They were two shows in one, with a short break, which the creator took advantage of to detail the 40 looks presented. The first part was dedicated to the new men's and women's collection in which the tailoring, fluid cuts in red, brown, eggplant and lavender, and jackets with mandarin collars shine. The second part was where the surprise came, with his first bridal collection. “The dresses are romantic, relaxed, with movement, and totally Mediterranean, although that does not mean that they are designed to be married on the beach, but somewhere on the Costa Brava, Capri or Taormina.” Avellaneda also comments that perhaps they would not have been dresses that her friend Tamara Falcó had worn to get married in El Rincón, although they would have served as her second.
As the designer explains, the idea for the show arose in an informal conversation with those responsible for Rowenta, the small appliance company for which he is an ambassador. "I told them my idea and they responded 'go ahead, we'll support you'." And Avellaneda, apart from his role as a designer, is a figure on Instagram, with 385,000 followers, and the videos of him commenting on the looks of royalty, parties or red carpets are very successful. In addition, he is currently a collaborator of the program Y Ahora Sonsoles, on Antena 3 and a judge on Rediséñame on Mitele plus.
Among the audience were the actress Cristina Brondo and the models Jaydy Michel and Helen Lindes, who has been the image of Rowenta for years. “I am totally dedicated to the firm, at events and uploading content on social networks.” The former miss comments that she has long been an admirer of Juan Avellaneda “because his clothes are very wearable and elegant and you know that you will always be perfect.” And at the end of the parade she commented half jokingly: “The best thing was enjoying an outdoor snack in Barcelona, because in Madrid it is already very cold.”
Jaydy Michel, for her part, explained that she feels very comfortable living in Barcelona, since her husband, also Mexican Rafa Márquez, is the coach of the FC Barcelona first team reserve team. “Leo, our son, supports Barça to the fullest and although I'm not much of a football fan, I go to all of my husband's games.” She assures that she travels very often to Madrid for work, but that in Barcelona she dedicates herself to getting to know its culture, especially the work of Gaudí: “This city is an authentic work of art, and I am excited about the Sagrada Familia. I’ve been there so many times I could even act as a guide,” she joked.
She confessed that when she attends shows like the one in Avellaneda she feels a certain nostalgia for when she paraded: “I had fun going on a catwalk, interpreting the designer's clothes, even the long waits in the backstage with other models…”. Jaydy Michel spoke about Manuela, the daughter she had with Alejandro Sanz “who studies abroad and is a citizen of the world, like many young people today.” But she avoided answering the questions about her great friend Genoveva Casanova, since the photos of her with Prince Frederick of Denmark were the topic of conversation among many guests yesterday at the parade, as they were getting settled.
