TRIBUTE TO THE MUSE, PATRON AND CLOSED FRIEND OF CRISTOBAL BALENCIAGA
Sonsoles de Icaza (Ávila, Spain 1914 - Madrid, Spain1996), Marchioness of Llanzol, was a Spanish aristocrat with an important impact in the Spanish Postwar fashion.
Sonsoles and Balenciaga after a fashion show.
In 1940 she started an extramarital affair with the then Francoist Minister Ramón Serrano-Suñer, married to the sister of Francisco Franco's wife, called Zita.
In 1942, Sonsoles has an extramarital daughter Carmen Díez de Rivera, who nevertheless will be recognized by her husband as her own; The marriage never separated.
Sonsoles and Ramón maintained their relationship during almost two decades, until the daughter of both announced their courtship of the smaller son of Ramón, its half brother! It was then that both discovered the kinship that united them.
Sonsoles passed away at age 81, on January 21st of 1996, in Madrid.
The Marchioness Family with Balenciaga in the 60s.
Sonsoles with her mother, daughter and grandaughter in the 60s, all dressed by Balenciaga.
Sonsoles with Givenchy in Paris in the 70s.
His daughter Sonsoles Díez de Rivera donated dresses designed by his friend Cristóbal Balenciaga to the Balenciaga Museum.
Sonsoles extramarital affair with Serrano-Suñer and his paternity were public knowledge. The journalist Nieves Herrero has written the semi-biographical novel Lo que Escondian sus Ojos, where she relates these events.
With her older daughter Sonsoles Diez de Rivera attending to weddings in the 50s.
Portrait of Sonsoles de Icaza in the last 40s.
With her two daughters, Sonsoles (left) and Carmen (right). Dressed by Balenciaga.
Source: Globomedia, ABC, Blogspots, scans.
