It is on the balcony of her new mansion in Beverly Park that Sofía Vergara receives designer Martha Medeiros, a reference in lace haute couture creations, on Wednesday afternoon (13), in Los Angeles.
At the sight of a white corset, one of the dozens of pieces that the Brazilian took to her famous client, the Colombian star exclaims: “This is for my next wedding.”
At 51 years old and recently separated from Joe Manganiello, Sofia makes a request to the chosen designer to make one of the models used in her marriage to the True Blood actor seven years ago.
“Martha, find me a Brazilian husband. And a rich one, please!”, jokes the judge on “American Got Talent”.
The two communicate in Portuguese, with the same comedic timing of a dialogue that could have been written by the writers of “Modern Family”, a series that projected the Colombian woman worldwide.
The Brazilian willingly positions herself not only as a potential matchmaker, but going further. “Come to Brazil and meet the lacemakers who make this art”, invites Martha, as she displays the beautiful Renaissance weave of a white strapless dress that she brought in her suitcase.
“The wedding dress is ready”, informs the woman from Alagoas, as she takes off the hanger a long model that took 1 year and two months of work by lacemakers who provide the raw material for her red carpet-worthy creations.
The artisanal and sophisticated lace excites Vergara, who discovered the Brazilian on Instagram. Meeting narrated in the preface of the biography “From Sertão to Hollywood” (Matrix Editora, 224 pages, R$ 59).
“I discovered who the designer was and pursued her until I got in touch with her”, says the actress about her amazement at seeing a beautiful lace dress by Martha Medeiros in a post. ”In my world, the opposite usually happens. Designers chase me.”
The highest-paid star on American TV not only located Martha but also ordered one of the dresses for the wedding in 2016. A watershed in the career of the woman from Alagoas, who, from this contact, saw the doors of Hollywood open.
The delivery of a copy of the book, in the English version, with dedications from me and Martha, is the reason for the visit to the actress, who insisted on welcoming us into her home.
The meeting was one of the commitments during the launch week in Los Angeles of the biography that tells the story of glamour, entrepreneurship and social inclusion of the Brazilian fashion designer.
We are welcomed by the actress’ manager, Luis Balaguer. Martha is grateful for the deference of having a space in the busy schedule during the Oscar week, whose ceremony was on Sunday (10), and amid the worldwide launch of the series “Griselda”.
Vergara is the protagonist and producer of the Netflix series that portrays the saga of Colombian drug trafficker Griselda Blanco, a kind of Pablo Escobar in skirts.
“Congratulations on the book”, praises the advisor, as he leafs through the copy of “From the Hinterland to Hollywood”.
He welcomes us in one of the living rooms of the mansion valued at US$26 million, located in a condominium in Beverly Park, in the hills of Beverly Hills, where other stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy live.
The lit fireplace warms the space that leads onto a large balcony overlooking the swimming pool and the property’s Tuscan-style guest house, with large arcades, tennis court and private cinema room.
A painting by Botero, Colombia’s most famous contemporary artist, adorns one of the walls from top to bottom.
On the coffee table, a book about Botero’s art shares space with others by Annie Leibovitz, Chanel and Tom Ford. Black and white photos of the girl Sofia adorn side tables.
Martha shows Balaguer a video about her travels through the northeastern countryside in search of the best lacemakers.
“What gives meaning to all of this is publicizing this work that transforms the lives of so many women in the Sertão”, says the designer.
She introduces the Colombian to the Mãos de Martha project, her legacy in the form of an art school in São Miguel dos Milagres (AL).
The living room connects with a second one, where a giant sculpture of a horse stands out, also signed by Botero.
The spaces feature pieces of 18th century French tapestry and majestic chandeliers, according to a report published by Architectural Digest magazine, in the Open Door series.
We cross the room to reach a kind of dressing room and clothing fitting room, where Martha deposits the new creations custom-made for the actress.
In addition to the classic mirrored bench with lighting designed for makeup, the domestic dressing room has two giant mirrors and hangers full of iconic and luxurious pieces from international brands.
What gives meaning to all of this is publicizing this work into income that transforms the lives of so many women in the Sertão
The walls are decorated with photos of Sofia at events with other artists, including a black and white photo of the Colombian’s meeting with her Italian namesake Sophia Loren.
There, Martha and her assistant, Kaline Vieira, a skilled seamstress and embroiderer, organize the various lace corsets on the counter – richly embroidered and decorated with crystals.
They hang the two red carpet gowns created especially for the Hollywood star.
Sofía’s manager tells her that she won’t have time to try on the clothes at that moment, as she needs to leave immediately for an appointment.
In a few minutes, the owner of the house comes down the stairs from the top floor that lead to the mansion’s 6 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. Like the star that she is, she wears a floral Dolce & Gabbana model and balances on size 15 Louboutin heels.
“Martha, where are you? Don’t disappear. I love you”, says the hostess effusively and warmly. The two embrace with the affection of a relationship that goes beyond that of designer/famous client.
Sofía chooses one of the corsets arranged on the sofa on the large balcony that overlooks the gardens, with beautiful marble fountains in a property that spreads over 8,000 square meters.
The actress takes one of the tops, with textured gold lace, and molds the piece to her body. “I’m fat. It won’t fit me,” she says charmingly.
Martha, who is proud to have a measuring tape in her eyes, didn’t make a mistake with the modeling. The top fits perfectly to Sofía’s silhouette, even over the Italian brand’s outfit chosen for the actress’s public appearance that night.
During the improvised test, a hilarious moment takes place, in keeping with the Colombian’s spontaneous style, as she lifts her skirt to remove the label from the piece that bothers her.
She also calmly appreciates the two dresses that Martha brought in her suitcase. “This one is for Oscar”, says the actress, as she places the long hot pink dress in front of her body. White deserves great praise and was “reserved” for a new wedding.
That’s when the owner of the house glimpses the table carefully set up with gifts that the Brazilian woman brought to her new home.
The stylist and assistant organize sousplats, napkins, glasses and bowls with lace motifs from the Martha Medeiros Home line on the 12 seats at the table.
“This house is better,” says Martha. “It’s small, but clean.” The two laugh at the comments. The designer delivers the biography in English, wrapped in a bow and with a silk flower.
Sofía makes a point of posing for photos with her biographer and the author of the book released in December last year in Brazil. We thank her for her availability and care in writing one of the prefaces to the work.
“And God willing, it will become a film”, says Martha, about the first surveys to take the work to the cinema.
“I’m going to play the role of Martha Medeiros”, says the actress. “And I, Sofia Vergara”, counters Martha. General laughter.
It’s time for the hostess and perhaps future protagonist of “Do Sertão a Hollywood”, the film, to run to the Netflix studios.
Right in the mood for scenes from the next chapters of a real story that seems like fiction, Sofia says goodbye by inviting Martha to return for her 52nd birthday party on July 10th.
The next day, Sofia makes two posts about the visit on her Instagram, where she has 34.8 million followers.
“Yesterday at home with the one and only Martha Medeiros. I can’t wait to wear each of the pieces you made for me”, wrote the actress in the caption that illustrates a carousel of four photos.
In the images, she appears wearing the gold corset, enjoying the pink and white long ones and with the dining table by Martha Medeiros.
The actress also makes a second post about the biography, alongside the stylist and the writer: “Very honored to have written the preface to this beautiful book. Congratulations Eliane Trindade for this wonderful and inspiring story. Martha Medeiros, you are simply the best! “.
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