Natalia Vodinova’s White Fairy Tale Love Ball

Reading about Natalia Vodinova’s childhood it’s easy to see why she claims she still believes in the magic of Fairytales. Scouted whilst working at a Russian market lugging boxes of apples and pears at the age of 11, whilst running back home to look after her disabled half sister certainly isn’t the glamorous lifestyle that you would naturally associate with the flawless face on the cover of Vogue. Forgive me if I see her reality as being somewhat mirrored to that of Cinders.

The model has used this Fairytale theme for a charity event that she is hosting in July. I for one am looking forward to seeing the coverage of this magical night. The White Fairy Tale Love Ball is set to be a Russian-inspired fund-raiser in aid of a charity close to the models own heart, The Naked Heart Foundation. This organisation addresses the issue faced by many special-needs children in Russia who are institutionalized and moved away from their families as opposed to being provided with money to be cared for from their own homes. Vodinova is hoping the proceeds can beat the $1.4 million that she raised for the charity at an event in Moscow.

“I feel hopeful — we’ve done a very good job,” said Ms. Vodianova of the Naked Heart Foundation. “We established it as a charity in Russia. Now I am really hoping to develop our progress with local support. What is really important is that Russian people are ready to be generous.”

There is most definitely a fabulously fashionable take on the fund raiser. It is due to take place near Paris during the July haute couture season at the Wideville chateau of Valentino and his partner, Giancarlo Giammetti. The model has asked 40 designers to each create a dress especially for the White Fairy Tale Love Ball. These unique dresses, all inspired by fairy tales, will be auctioned along with a limited edition book presenting images of the model in the dresses, photographed by Paolo Roversi.

“Being still a Russian little girl inside, I wanted to create something around my love of fairy tales” she says. This is demonstrated through a whole host of fashion shoots that the model has featured in to date. As a huge fairytale fan myself, especially within the fashion world I am sure to be enchanted by the coverage of the event. I also love the personal touch that the model has given to the proceedings, and the dedication to the charity in question.

The imagery from the night itself is set to be fantastically magical as fashion choreographer Alex de Betak is designing a wintter’s tale set. “The idea is to create a Doctor Zhivago version of a beautiful and glamorous, but quite a childlike, fairy tale,” said de Betak.

Watch this space as I will be sure to compile a report of the coverage once the White Fairy Tale Love Ball has taken place.