Meet Claudia Peral!
With a distinguished career in the fashion industry, Claudia Peral has worked for prestigious houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Rabanne. Today, she brings her experience and refined taste to Dior as Worldwide Head of e-Influence. In an exclusive collaboration with Alhaja, Claudia designed the Peral Earrings and the matching Peral Belt; two exquisite pieces that reflect her timeless elegance and personal symbolism. Discover the most iconic details of her wedding in Menorca, and the jewels that celebrate her unique style.
All other pieces from the Alhaja collection can also be crafted in solid gold upon request, offering a timeless option for bridal jewellery and special occasions.
To begin this interview with you, Claudia, how about you tell us a little more about yourself?
I'm from Madrid, with roots in both Spanish and French cultures. Since I was a child, I've spent a lot of time between the French countryside and coast, as well as between Galicia and Menorca, which allowed me to grow up immersed in both cultures. That cultural duality has always been an important part of my identity and, in a way, it ultimately led me to settle in Paris.
Since I was a child, I have always wanted to travel, to see new places and meet new people. For a while, I ran away from routine, although never from my family. Over the years, I have become more family-oriented, and I am lucky to be surrounded by loved ones in a home full of love. My parents always gave me the confidence to follow my heart, even if it wasn't always exactly what they would have wanted.
How did your relationship with the world of fashion and creativity begin?
From a very young age, I watched my mother make all kinds of incredible crafts and creations; she made us costumes worthy of the catwalk. But if I had to pinpoint a specific moment, I would say that when I was 14, my mother took me with her friends one afternoon to see the costumes Lorenzo Caprile was making for a play in Madrid's old town. When I saw those cabaret-style marvels, I discovered a universe full of fantasy that fascinated me. Even before that, I used to buy fashion magazines, dance everywhere nonstop, draw quite well, and have ideas that I wrote down but didn't create because I didn't know how.
What inspires you in your daily life? Is there a woman, artist, or aesthetic reference that has had a particular impact on you?
Absolutely everything. A building, a song, a gesture, a colour... but what inspires me most are the people around me; they make me a better person. It may be a cliché, but it's the truth. My friends, my siblings, my parents, and my sister-in-law are my daily life and values. But on an aesthetic level, I would say Diana Vreeland, Caroline Lee Radziwill, Carolyne Bessette... but my friends, without a doubt, are the ones who inspire me the most. Cristina Alcover, Isabel Mascareñas, Jaime Cabrera, Bianca Lee Vasquez, Giacomo Tortarolo...
If you had to describe your personal style, how would you do it?
A mix between masculine and feminine. I avoid wearing revealing clothes, as I have quite a large bust and prefer to conceal it. If I wear heels, I wear a basic T-shirt. If I wear a fitted blazer, I wear men's shoes. But without a doubt, my favourite garment is a nice shirt with a scarf. I have all kinds of white, blue, brown, and black shirts... and silk scarves in all colours and shapes.
Let's talk about your wedding. How did you imagine that day, and how did you shape that vision?
I have been organising and attending events for luxury brands for over 5 years and have seen it all. For my wedding, I wanted it to be as intimate and personal as possible. Firstly, in Menorca, which is my vitamin island. It was the perfect occasion to share with all our friends everything we love about this island and its culture. Little by little, it took shape with each friend who got involved.
What did the pearls and belt we designed together at Alhaja mean to you? What made you choose those details?
To begin with, the baroque pearl is undoubtedly my favourite piece of jewellery. It really lights up the face; it is timelessly pure, white, and subtle. For me, it represents calm, elegance, and nature. It is soft and delicate.
What were you trying to convey with your bridal look?
With the first dress, I wanted a real wedding dress, regardless of current trends, and a dress worthy of entering a church. It is made of natural silk, which is quite difficult to work with due to its thickness and stiffness compared to other fabrics. For the second dress, following the same theme, I wanted the fabric to be pure and natural too, which is linen with silk, textured, slightly rough, but soft and without shine. The combination of all this with the pearl accessories and a natural organza veil suited me perfectly, but also the place and the moment.
Was there any moment during the creative process or testing that you remember with particular fondness?
Absolutely all of them, everything has been very exciting, from seeing the first samples of the pearls with you, the selection, the assembly... Seeing the beautiful names of all our friends and family written down, the selection of the olive trees, which I'll tell you about later... But what I was most excited about was surprising my mother on the day of the wedding.
Tell us a little about the ceremony and the celebration. How was that day? What feelings do you take away from it?
From the beginning, I had my two fairy godmothers by my side to help me get ready, put on music, and get dressed. My father and my friend Cyril were counting down the minutes until we could leave and prepare the car. Once in the car, all my nerves disappeared, and from that moment on, it was pure enjoyment. It was pouring rain, but from the moment the ceremony ended and we walked out of the church door, we didn't stop singing and dancing. After the show, we sat down to eat under a huge tent with five long tables decorated with aromatic plants and cabbages—yes, cabbages—because I really wanted that touch of green everywhere and an unusual element. Our witnesses gave a speech, which ended with a performance by my friend and co-worker Dawei Yang, singing I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston, which got us all up on the table. Afterwards, I danced with my father to Someone Like You by Van Morrison, a song that perfectly defines my love and relationship with Thomas and that I have danced to since I was a little girl with my father on his feet.
All this is in words, but it was undoubtedly the happiest day (so far) of my life. Where all the people I love and admire in the world were. And the energy that was created was truly amazing.
Weddings are often full of symbols. Was there one that had special meaning for you?
My wedding was full of symbols, from start to finish. Every detail had meaning, from the people who made it possible to the most intimate reasons that led me to experience that moment. The first symbol was the dress: my mother's. She didn't know until the morning of the wedding. I wanted to pay tribute to her and give her the leading role she has always played in my life: she is my muse, my pillar, my companion, and my strength. At weddings, the father usually has the most visible gestures, such as accompanying the bride, speaking, or dancing, but with that detail, I wanted my mother to have her moment in the spotlight during the ceremony.
I confess that I was more nervous about her finding out ahead of time than about the wedding itself.
Another very important symbol was the plants that decorated the entire venue. I wanted us to plant them all in our new home in Menorca afterwards, so that they would grow with us and we would always remember when this new stage of our lives began.
