Supermodel and singer-songwriter Karen Elson has tied the knot with art collector and curator Lee Foster. The couple exchanged vows at the iconic Electric Lady Studios in New York, a recording studio founded by Jimi Hendrix and currently managed by Foster. Elson’s stunning wedding dress was a custom creation designed by Alessandro Michele, marking the first wedding dress designed by Michele for Valentino.
Before the wedding, US Vogue accompanied Elson, her father Jimmy, and daughter Scarlett to the Valentino atelier in midtown Manhattan for an exclusive look at the final fitting of the wedding dress. The magazine captured the special family moments leading up to the big day.
Elson, who was scouted as a model in Manchester, England, at the age of 16 and has graced numerous magazine covers, reached out to Michele just a few months before the wedding. She expressed her desire to have him design her wedding dress, making it the first wedding dress created under his leadership at Valentino.
“I’ve known Alessandro for a long time, and his designs are so dreamy and magical,” Elson said. “I was certain it would be very much my style. I asked him if he would make my wedding dress, and be a part of this special time in my life. Luckily, he said yes.”
This was shortly after Michele’s arrival at Valentino, and Elson collaborated with her friend and stylist, Reese Cooper, for numerous Zoom meetings with the designer. “Reese helped me shape my vision, and the process was pretty simple. Plus, Alessandro is so talented, and he knows me well, so all the dresses he suggested were beautiful. I made a few tweaks, but the process was really comfortable.”
When Elson arrived at the atelier for the dress fitting and final touches, Valentino staff opened the door to reveal a beautiful, delicate tulle dress adorned with exquisite embroidery. Elson exclaimed, “I’m going to cry,” clapping her hands in delight. She excitedly embraced the dress, then slipped into it, striking poses for her daughter, father, Valentino, and the Vogue team.
Elson and Michele considered incorporating colors like green and yellow, but ultimately decided to include “something blue.” This tradition, common in Europe, is said to bring good luck to the bride. The dress featured a lightweight georgette lining and a delicate tulle cape with bell sleeves. Blue bead embroidery was strategically placed on the tulle cape and the flared skirt, which flowed gracefully from the waist. A sash tied into a bow at the back, and a silk floral bouquet handcrafted by the atelier completed the elegant design.
“I’ve known Karen for a long time,” Michele shared. “We are very close, and she is a special person. She is not only a great interpreter of fashion in the 1990s and 2000s, but also an artist. She was my muse for my first cruise collection show in New York, which is a very meaningful show for me. She’s like an angel. It was a lucky charm for me to be able to make her wedding dress.”
The couple’s journey began in the fall of 2022 when they were introduced through a mutual friend. “A couple of our friends set us up, and they told us to go on a date, so we did,” Elson explained. “A lot of people kept suggesting we go on a date, so I thought, why not?”
Fast forward to fall 2023, and Foster popped the question to Elson in upstate New York. Their daughter, Scarlett, recalled the moment, sharing, “Lee called me and my brother, Henry Lee White, and asked if he could propose to my mom while we were upstate. Of course, we said yes! We love him so much.”
“We had gotten keys to this beautiful farm in upstate New York,” Elson recalled. “As we were walking through this incredible property, Lee got down on one knee and proposed. I was surprised because he was moving around so he wouldn’t get caught. It was truly a beautiful moment.”
The couple planned two intimate weddings, one in Nashville, Tennessee, in August and another in New York. As music lovers, they chose to hold their New York wedding at the rooftop of Electric Lady Studios, which was founded by Jimi Hendrix and acquired by Foster in 2010. The studio has been a recording haven for many iconic artists, including Adele, Daft Punk, Lady Gaga, A$AP Rocky, and more recently, Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey.
Elson shared that Foster is “very passionate” about running the studio and considers it a home. The wedding planning was handled by Elson’s friend, Brenna McKaigney-Kennedy. “She was incredible!” Elson raved.
Elson walked down the aisle to Daniel Johnston’s “True Love Will Find You in the End.” Her only bridesmaid was her daughter, Scarlett, who wore an ivory silk slip dress also by Valentino. The neckline was edged with lace ruffles, accented with a celestial blue satin ribbon. The groom wore a suit by Hedi Slimane for Celine.
As Elson begins this new chapter in her life, adorned in a dress by one of the world’s most respected designers and a close friend, she shared her excitement, saying, “I’m really looking forward to having everyone who’s been part of our lives come together.” With the blessings of many, Elson’s radiance is even more profound.
