When Raghu met Carla

As French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, former model Carla Bruni jet set across India, the Capital’s fashionistas can’t stop gushing about the first lady’s style and magnetic personality.

As French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, former model Carla Bruni jet set across India, the Capital’s fashionistas can’t stop gushing about the first lady’s style and magnetic personality. “It’s always been part of who she is” says fashion designer Raghavendra Rathore, who worked with Bruni in the late 80s.

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Rathore first got to meet Bruni in New York City, while he worked as a design intern with American designer Oscar De La Renta. “She had established herself as a supermodel by then and her presence had a tremendous impact even then. I always saw her in the company of models, such as Christy Turlington, Yasmin Ghauri and Naomi Campbell.”

Rathore says Bruni was most noticeable because of her attitude. “Christy had a quiet charm and Naomi was known for her super sexy legs but Carla had hearty mannerisms. She would laugh a lot and had a carefree attitude. She came across as an affable young girl, who was perhaps just a little careless with her words.”

Not prone to supermodel tantrums, Rathore says Bruni was very passionate about fashion and would spend hours with Renta talking about it. “Her passion for life is what shines through in her personality even today.”