Tulips and Pansies - The Headdress Affair

On May 21st 2007 Rafe participated in a charity event to benefit Village Care of New York, a non-profit organization providing healthcare for people living with HIV/AIDS. The event paired Rafe with florist Stephanie Gueldner, owner of Studio Artiflora, to create a headdress combining each designer’s signature style. Rafe decided to make his signature straw bag, only supersized, and filled with exotic flowers representing his cultural background. The night culminated with a runway show of various designers’ headdresses, including Libertine, Diane Von Furstenberg, Lela Rose and Bill Blass, hosted by Style Network’s James Aguiar. Rafe and Stephanie’s creation wowed the audience. After all, it was the biggest and brightest

Eva Longoria’s Bridesmaids wore Rafe to her wedding

Eva Longoria loves Rafe. When she was planning her wedding to basketball superstar Tony Parker, she had celebrity stylist Robert Verdi ask Rafe to create something special to give to her ten bridesmaids. Rafe designed a chic, compact minaudiere, crafted in anthracite snake skin and embellished with smoke colored stones. He also attached the girls initials like charms on the drop in chain making the clutches even more special and personalized. Foreseeing that Eva would get jealous, Rafe also made an additional clutch for the bride as a present. Eva’s wedding took place on July 7th 2007 in Paris, France and the ten bridesmaids happily wore the clutches to the wedding reception.