Born 1943 in Seville, Spanish socialite and former fashion model Naty Abascal started her modeling career when Spanish fashion designer Elio Berhanyer asked both her and her twin sister Ana Maria Abascal to model some of his designs at the International Exhibition in New York in 1964. The couple caught Richard Avedon’s eye and he decided to photograph them in Ibiza later in 1964 for his ‘The Iberians (The Blaze in Spain)’ editorial in Harper’s Bazaar. After this, her modeling career took off and she fixed her residence in New York.
Naty Abascal as a model in the 1960s
Designer Valentino met Abascal in 1968 at a party when she was 25 years old. By then, she had already been working as a model in New York for at least 3 years and had a full-time contract with Ford model agency; years later she would also be employed by Wilhelmina model agency. Valentino brought her to the island of Capri for modeling shoots and, ever since, they’ve remained close friends.
Towards the end of 1975 she returned to her home in Seville (Spain). She reunited with an ex-boyfriend from her teenage years, Rafael Medina y Fernandez de Cordoba, Duke of Feria and Marquis of Villalba and they married in 1977 and had two sons. At the beginning of the 1980s, and well after having left the fashion world, she jumped again on the catwalks for her friend Carolina Herrera’s first collection. It would be her last catwalk show.
Abascal is known as one of Valentino Garavani’s Spanish muses and she’s also closely connected to Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera, among other designers. She still works regularly as a stylist for Hola! magazine as well as many other punctual projects.
Take a look at these stunning photos to see portraits of young Naty Abascal as a model in the 1960s.
Nati Abascal wearing ornate filigree necklace from Elvira Lucena, a Madrid boutique, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, 1964
Nati Abascal in a space suit is wearing chromotone nail enamels by Fabergé, photo by Richard Avedon, Harper’s Bazaar, April 1965
Nati Abascal in black-white plaid knit two-piece, top is dolman-sleeved, by Ricano, hat by Lilly Daché, photo by Richard Avedon, Vogue, April 1, 1965
Nati Abascal in cocktail suit of CMB natural dark ranch mink by Georges Kaplan, Vogue, November 1, 1965
Nati Abascal in Fouke-Dyed “Matara” Alaska fur seal coat by Georges Kaplan, Harper’s Bazaar, October 1965
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