Royal Fashion Minute: The Spanish Royals Meet the Pope

You're Going To Meet The Pope...What Do You Wear?

Spanish Royal Family Greet Pope Benedict XVI at Zarzuela Palace Madrid Spain for World Youth Day 2011

Well, this is a FIRST--even for my BLOG--a (sort of) Red Carpet Report that includes THE POPE!!! I'm not really discussing Pope Benedict XVI but really the Spanish Royals --therefore the title "Royal Fashion Minute"... The Pope was in Madrid Spain for the World Youth Day 2011 events which are held every three years in a different country (Who Knew? Well, I certainly did not). There's been some demonstrations as a result because I guess the Spaniards have become much more secular lately...but really: What Did they Wear????



Infanta Estrellitas: The stars of this official "Spanish Royals Meet The Pope" photo-op were the Infantas Leonor and Sofia, daughters to Crown Prince Felipe and his stunning wife, Princess Letizia. They wore the cutest little flower-print dresses EVER--with matching strapped "ballet slippers". I guess to many observers, they "stole the show"! No word on who designed their little dresses (Hello Spanish Royals PR Department!! We need Names!!!).



Princess Letizia of Spain looked as chic as ever--but still "Catholic-proper" in a beige notched collar suit--with a slightly above-the-knee skirt (SHOCKING!) and very stylish matching stacked heels. Love the lace detailing on the sleeves and waistband!!



Shoes Shoes Shoes: La Reina--Queen Sofia--seen above bowing to his Holiness. Notice his red slippers made by papal shoemaker Adriano Stefanelli.



Yellow Queen: Queen Sofia wore a canary yellow Bouclé suit featuring a glove-length sleeved jacket and dress with nude peep-toe sling-back heels. This is what a Queen should dress like...to meet the Pope.

Royal COUTURE: Spanish Royals Host the Emir of the State of Qatar and Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser

Outfit Change...and COUTURE...DIVA!

First Class Travel Ensemble: Sheikha Mozah of Qatar and Queen Sofia of Spain

Well kids, just in time for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (she doesn't like to be called "Kate" you know), I decided to add some Royal Fashion to cap off your "Fashion Mondays". It seems that the Spanish Royals--King Juan Carlos, his wife Queen Sofia and the Crown Prince and Princess, Felipe and Letizia, played hosts to the Emir of Qatar and his "Fashion Plate" wife, the most exquisite, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser who made an official visit to Madrid today.

Welcome To Diva-Land: Sheikha Mozah and the Emir of Qatar, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain

I've covered Sheikha Mozah here before in my blog, because well, she's a MAJOR Fashion DIVA! Her Highness loves COUTURE and is especially known for her chic turbans. When she and her husband arrived, she was wearing a perfect "traveling outfit": An ivory column gown (yes, you read right: A GOWN!), matching jacket and turban--all cinched with a leather belt and accessorized with a clutch.

Violet Outfit Change: Spanish Royals welcome Qatar Emir and his wife, Sheikha Mozah

Hours later, for the official "Welcoming Day Photo Op", Her Highness Sheikha Mozah did an Outfit Change (yes she did, huney!) and went with a deep violet fit-and-flare gown featuring a high bias-cut roll-neck collar, triple waist darts and a cinched contrasting black belt--along with a matching violet turban and black peep-toe pumps.

In the photo above, one can almost caption it with Queen Sofia telling Her Highness Sheikha Mozah (in a Spanish accent) "Seriously! You HAD to do an outfit change! I stayed the same! I just took my jacket off!!"

Couture Caftan: Sheikha Mozah of Qatar inn Chanel Spring 2011 Haute Couture

For the Evening Gala State Dinner hosted by the Spanish Royals, Sheikha Mozah went all out GLAMOUR--opting for Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2011. Yes kids: COUTURE! You always wonder who is actually ordering--and paying for--Haute Couture? Look no further than the Middle East darlings.

Sheikha Mozah decided to order--and wear--one of the looks from Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel Haute Couture Collection--a fully hand-beaded caftan/coat with matching inner gown, estimated at approximately $100,000. Yes, that's what a hand-made coat and gown costs when it is Couture. Here it is in the photo above on the Chanel Spring 2011 Haute Couture runway, and as you can see, Sheikha Mozah of Qatar ordered it with lining, thank you very much! She's a Lady, after all.

Of course, she had to add her own unique touch and accessorize it with her iconic turban. How do you say "Très Chic" in Arabic?

Incidentally, it comes from the same collection that actress Michelle Williams' 2011 Academy Awards Red Carpet gown came from (photo above).

Now, my story wouldn't be complete without giving "Nick Fashion Props" to Princess Letizia of Spain and what she wore: A modern one-shoulder midnight blue silk charmeuse-and-crepe column gown with side-drape cascades. Modern, fresh and stunning. Olé!

Wedding Red Carpet: The Wedding of Rafael Medina, Duke of Feria and Laura Vecino, in Toledo Spain

Spanish Bridal DIVAS:

Cover Exclusivo: The Wedding of Rafael Medina and Laura Vecino, exclusive on iHOLA! Magazine

In 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!

And now to the "Red Carpet" Parade of Guests:

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!

Click HERE for video of the "Wedding Red Carpet" and the illustrious guests: (it's in Spanish, by the way)