Spanish Bridal DIVAS:
Cover Exclusivo: The Wedding of Rafael Medina and Laura Vecino, exclusive on iHOLA! MagazineIn October,
a FABULOUS Wedding took place in Spain, which went pretty much unnoticed here in the US, since it involved Spanish nobility which no one, except Spain and Latin America, really care about. I didn't even know this wedding--and the "Red Carpet Fashion Show" that was part of it--had occurred until my mom mailed me a copy of
¡HOLA! Magazine (my mom LIVES by that magazine!) which then enlightened me on what I had missed...
And GIRL, it was a lot:
El Couple Elegante: Rafael Medina, Duke of Feria and his new bride, Laura Vecina The wedding was between the Model-Handsome
Rafael Medina Duke of Feria and the beautiful
Laura Vecino, an architect. This was dubbed
"The Wedding of The Year" in Spain (they say that like FOUR times a year at every other semi-royal wedding there!) and of course, made the cover of that aforementioned
iHOLA! Magazine my mommy sent me--and the 85+ page spread inside of it!!
That's a Train: View of the Giambattista Valli-designed wedding gown In case you are "out of the loop" when it comes to Euro-Aristocracy, they are the "celebs" of Europe, where tabloids and magazines track their every move, rate all their fashions and yes, cover all their weddings, which the public--and my Mom--EAT up! The dirty little secret is that a lot of these European nobles survive on the money the tabloids give them for exclusives on their weddings, vacations, announcements, etc. It's like when
People Magazine pays
Carrie Underwood for the exclusive of her wedding...well, same here. So, needless to say, Rafael and Laura probably made a KILLING from
iHOLA! Magazine and enjoyed their honeymoon in the Maldives very nicely.
What Did The Bride Wear: Laura wore a custom gown by Designer
Giambattista Valli. It featured a fan-pleated silk chiffon strapless base that had a detachable Silk Brocade Ball Gown skirt with a HUGE tulle-and-organza petticoat which held the very heavy skirt up. For the "Wedding Reception", she removed the Ball Gown Skirt and partied in the fitted and very sexy fan-pleated gown that was underneath
(see photos above).
Good Genes: Naty Abascal and her dashing two sons
Who Is The Groom: Rafael Medina is one of the two GORGEOUS sons of
Naty Abascal, former
Duchess of Feria. Abascal was a former model from the 1960's, who quickly became part of the Euro A-List Circle and a yearly fixture on the World's Best Dressed Lists and a Muse of
Valentino. She even made a brief cameo in his documentary
"Valentino: The Last Emperor".
Speaking of the Italian Couturier, he "came out of retirement" just for this one time to design Naty her
Haute Couture Valentino sea-foam green silk crepe gown with
Batteau neckline, 3/4 sleeves and waist-tie bow. Of course she finished it off with the
traditional Spanish
Peineta and
Mantilla.
Diva Fashion Points: Off The Chart!
Of course, Fashion Designer
Valentino Garavani was there, looking very dapper in a black tuxedo tailcoat, vest and tie ensemble--and his perpetual tan.
Spanish supermodel and TV hostess
Nieves Alvarez wore
Fall 2010 Chanel, without the fur
Sasquatch boots, thank goodness.
Rosario Domecq, wife of Spanish Matador/bullfighter "El Juli", wore a red ruffled peplum dress from
Lanvin by Albert Elbaz.
Former Miss Spain, model and TV presenter
María José Suárez wore a very sexy chocolate brown silk charmeuse dress with gold-and-black belt from Spanish Fashion Designer
Miguel Palacio.
Carolina Herrera (the daughter), and wife of another Spanish Matador/bullfighter,
Miguel Baez "El Litri" (her momma done taught her well, kids!) wore a navy blue ensemble designed by her Venezuelan-born mother,
Carolina Herrera, of course. Her hat was from
Philip Treacy for Reyes Hellin.
Former wife of
Cayetano Martínez de Irujo y Fitz-James Stuart,
Count of Salvatierra and youngest son of the
Duchess of Alba, Mexico-born
Genoveva Casanova, wore a silver-gray very 50's style suit from
Christian Dior by John Galliano, looking very
Evita Peron.
Finally, the biggest applause from the crowd viewing the
Rafael Medina and Laura Vecino Red Carpet Wedding Spectacle (yes, huney, there was an audience, just like the Oscars!) went to Spanish Society Doyenne
, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, who just happens to be in the
Guinness World Records for holding the most noble titles in the world! In other words, the
King and Queen of Spain--as well as the
Queen of England--basically have to bow down to her as opposed to the other way around. Her descendants, by the way, are the ones in the
iconic Goya paintings. The 84-year old 18th Duchess of Alba wore a red jacket and multi-tiered skirt ensemble, matching red flats, a turquoise evening bag, and fishnets and attended with her much-younger boyfriend.
Gotta love her!
Tsarina Entrance: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Elena Permineva (disguising a slight baby bump), model and wife of Russian Billionaire Alexander Lebedev and Marie Claire Fashion Director Nina Garcia in the background--Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Monastic Couture: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Monastic Couture: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
A Night at The Opera: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
The Cape Coat of The Season: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
A Modern Wedding: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Renaissance Charmeuse: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Can I Order This with a Lining? Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
Valentino Red: Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2011
