Meet Trailblazer Doreen Gal

Today we’d like to introduce you to Doreen Gal.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Doreen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Fashion has been a passion of mine ever since I could remember – it was my first love. As a girl, I remember sitting in the kitchen in fancy ball gown dresses, drawing my own designs, and dreaming of one day becoming a fashion designer – I actually named my make-believe boutique ‘Fashion Passion’ (ha!).

Currently, I’m living in beautiful Los Angeles, where I was born and raised, figuring life out as it comes. My Instagram (@doreengal) is the outlet of my life. It is my story. I document everything from my love for fashion to my dating life, my lifestyle, and my tips and tricks.

A bit about my fashion history: It was in high school when I decided to start dressing more modestly and soon realized how difficult it was to suddenly have a new set of hemline restrictions and a limited wardrobe – as I could no longer be wearing just a tank top and jeans. Adjusting to a new way of dressing was a challenge for me but eventually, with a lot of practice, I got very good at it. I like to think that I’ve finally mastered dressing modestly in a way that doesn’t seem so “out of the ordinary” or “strange”, and instead in a way that screams out “effortlessly chic.”

Now, it comes naturally to me, and since I understand the difficulty of it all on a personal level, I want to share my sense of style with other women who have similar interests.

Fun fact: I graduated USC with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Dental Hygiene (as did my three older sisters!). After ending work at 5 pm as a dental hygienist, I tried to make an effort to get out of my scrubs, dress up, and go out – because when you look good, you FEEL GOOD, and scrubs just didn’t do that for me. Eventually, I started posting more photos on Instagram as a hobby, sharing my outfits and places I love to go to. I was surprised to see how much traction my posts were bringing, and how many women are interested in my sense of style. I then realized I could be inspiring a lot of women to dress modestly in a world where it seems so lost.

Over the years, I have also become very skilled in finding unique places to go and fun things to do (regardless of the city I’m in). Let’s face it, many people think that if you’re not on vacation, the place where you reside is just not a fun place to be and that’s something I don’t agree with. I find that exploring the city you’re in is the next best thing to traveling. It’s become a hobby of mine searching for special places where I choose to spend my time with friends and why not use my Instagram platform to share these beautiful places with the world so they could enjoy too!

Right now, I am collaborating with brands that I truly believe in, and sharing my great finds, styling tips, and exciting ‘things to do’ with my incredible followers. I hope to grow my brand, continue inspiring women, and eventually, create some kind of brand I can call my own.

Has it been a smooth road?
Obviously, just having a hemline restriction when shopping is a challenge in and of itself. Dressing modestly limits the options of clothing you could purchase and style – It’s much easier to put together a great outfit when your options are not limited to midi skirts and dresses.

The Instagram and fashion industry definitely has its challenges as well. It’s hard to put yourself out there as it is, and it’s even harder being ranked on your success through a virtual outlet and a number scale – whether it be the number of likes on a photo or the number of followers. Many brands declined to collaborate with me based on my follower count is too small. When that happens, I remind myself that this is meant to be a fun creative outlet for me, and the numbers should not matter.

My advice for those just starting is to support other women in the industry with similar interests as yours. If you show support, they will support you. Remember, this is not a competition for success, there is room for everyone at the top.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am currently a modest fashion and lifestyle influencer. I inspire women to dress modestly and feel beautiful and confident in doing so. I also share my adventures on things to do, dating, travel, and my day-to-day life through my Instagram account, @doreengal.

I am most proud of my confidence and strength to put myself out there in an industry that’s quite intimidating like Instagram, and of course, I am proud of my sense of style.

What sets me apart from others is that I don’t only understand modest fashion and the challenges that come with it, I’ve also learned the art of dressing effortlessly modest and how to feel beautiful doing it. And since I individually select the items and brands I work with, my honest reviews stand out in an industry where opinions just don’t seem so trusting.

The most important advice to remember when developing your own sense of style, or when expanding your personal brand, is to just have fun!

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
As my biggest role-model, my mom and her fashion sense played a huge role in setting me up on a path of fashion like this one. She is the greatest fashionista I know and has an incredible talent of making the most unexpected pieces look incredible. She’s also my greatest inspiration for finding amazing deals!

I grew up in a home with three older sisters that all have a different taste in style. If you were talented enough to sneak into their closets and leave unscathed (article of clothing at hand), there were endless possibilities to mix, match, and experiment with. Being the youngest of four, I am thankful for the guidance they have given me while growing up. I feel like I may be returning the favor with fashion advice through our adult years now (hopefully).

Lastly (which may be the most ridiculous and embarrassing), I really fell in love with the Disney princesses as a child. Not only with the storyline, but specifically with how the princesses would project themselves, style included! Their gowns were always created so beautifully in the films, and the scenes I remember most from watching the movies as a kid! This would explain my consistent history of wearing fancy gowns around the house, and in public, on regular days of the week from ages 2-6 years (LOL).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/doreengal/
• Email: doreengalofficial@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doreengal/

Image Credit:
Karen T. Gal, Michael Ozery, Yoni Kashanian, Tymelessmoments

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.