About

(Demarchelier, 2013)

Caronlina herself is the embodiment of the Herrera

woman: refinement, sophistication, modern, glamorous,
romantic -- and always in the

Carolina Herrera was
best taste.- Calvin Klein (Wila, Venezuelan born in 1939 to
son, 2011, p.1)Carolina Herrera
a family of Venezuelan aristois known for her perennial
crats. Carolina didnt grow up
focus on elegance, impecmaking dresses for her dolls,
cable tailored, and even ladysewing at an early age or even
like clothes. (Remsen,Wyma,
dreaming to become a world
2013) She has been said to be
famous designer in her youth.
The grande dame of frothey
Instead, in her later teen years
red-carpet gowns and chic day
she developed a liking for the
suits for the Park Avenue set.
50s fashion styles and began
(Remsen,Wyma, 2013)
to emulate them in her own

Now 30 years into her
wardrobe. It was her inimicareer, shes also cultivated an
table fashion sense, charm and
eponymous label of elegant
old-world looks that drove her
classics into a separate lifestyle
later success. (Wilson, 2011,
brand. (Wilson, 2011, p.2)She
p.1)
has more than 70 stores across

Herrera married young
the globe and continues to take
and had two daughters, Merthe world by storm with her
cedes and Ana Luisa in her first
pristine attention to detail and
marriage. She divorced and
crisp portrayal femininity.
remarried, to Reinaldo Herrera. Despite Herreras success,
she managed to keep her career
separate from her home life.
(Wilson, 2011, p.2)

Carolina Herrera was
presented the Geoffrey Beene
Lifetime Achievement Award
and in 1980 she was named to
the Hall of Fame for the International Best-Dressed List. It
was in the same year that Herrera sent her first line of ready
to wear out for public viewing.
(Style.com, 2012) Not only that
(DAddario, 2010)
but, Herrera was named the
CFDA Womenswear Designer
of the Year in 2004, and in
2008 the organization bestowed upon her the Geoffrey
Beene Lifetime Achievement
Award.(Madeira, 2012)

2013

(Herrera, 2013)

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Carolina Herreras target
market is a woman who is sophisticated and sexy, edgy and
respected. She is a socialite that
likes to make a lasting impression.
She loves punches of detail, making her a stand out in and with the
fashion-forward. She is part of the
upwardly mobile and never slows
down. She values her relationships with family and friends; and
strives for versatility in her wardrobe.
(Herrera, 2013)

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FALL

(Herrera, 2013)
I believe the inspiration behind this line to be from Playing cards. When I did research I found that I was, in fact
on the right track, but that the rest of the collection was
formed around astrological constellations. Not only that,
but Carolina Herrera was directly influenced for this collection by Van Goughs Starry Night. From the heavens
to the earth is how Herrera preferred to put it. After the
starry gowns, with their diaphanous layers of chiffon and
crystal brooches, there were show-stopper very much of
the earth, in jacquards of garden rose.(Schneier, 2012)
Models are naturalistic with bright red
lips, hair sleekly pulled back into a loose
ponytail or loose twisted bun. They are
wearing either pointed toe heels that have
accents of shine or strappy red or black
heels.
(Herrera, 2013)

2013

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(Valade, 2013)
The inspiration behind this collection came from the Fleetwood Mac, Sisters of the Moon Sound track (Schneier,
2012) This collection was flowy and light and embodied
something so beautiful, fluid and soft . Everything had a
billow effect to it as well as having pastel color pallets that
were very pleasing to the eye. I loved this collection and
could see myself wearing every single piece, of every single
line. Critics, however, we somewhat less than impressed.
Reviews were mixed with the step out of the box for Carolina Herrera, but for me, I applaud it. Excellent.
Models had a smoky eye, penciled in dramatic eyebrows, peach cheeks, and a light
pink shimmer on the lips. Their hair was
slicked back in the middle and straightened. This gave the flowy garments some
edge, in my opinion.

(Valade, 2013)

N Y F W
(Nescher, 2012)
I honestly had a hard time trying to figure out the theme
or inspiration behind this collection. I found myself wondering how Carolina Herrera got from beginning to end
in her collection for Fall 2012. I think that the pattern I
see within all of the collection is the texture behind her
fabric. Everything that she sent down the runway looked
as though it had an interesting texture to the textile.
Her fall collection was inspired by the idea of an artists
studio, seen in the graphic brush strokes that shes swept
across organza... (Mistry, 2011)
Models are naturalistically styled with
peach accents on cheeks and some lightly
smoky eyes. Their lips were painted with
a coral pink/orange and their hair was
styled in a bouffant either down and
straight or pulled back with a headband
or bow
(Nescher, 2012)

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(Valade, 2013)

2012
(Valade, 2013)
I felt a strong sense of botanical theme for this collection. There was a range of patterns and tropical based
color schemes. Inspiration started with the Bauhaus,
says Carolina Herrera, citing the modernity of lines and
the fluidity... (Mistry, 2011) I enjoyed everything in this
collection because Im all about patterns mixed with patterns. The only thing that threw me off was the bird print,
I did not care for that. Otherwise I found this show to be
very trendy and I loved the transitions of bright to dark
colors within the line.
Models embodied a clean face look
that did not have a lot of color or added
pigmentation to their skin. Hair was
styled in ponytails with little wisps of
hair let down on the sides to show a
more relaxed and windblown look.
(Valade, 2013)

SPRING

CAROLINA HERRERA

2013

Dark Hues
Gradients
Glossy Satin Fabrics
Floral Patterns
Checker Patterns
Contellation Patterns
Polka Dot Patterns
Sheer sleeves
Waist Belts
Flowy Skirts
Crop Pants
Structured Blouses
Peplum
V-Neck
Ruffles
Color blocking
Accentuated Waist
Figured Belts
V-neck lines
Tea-length Dresses
Separates
Collared Blouses
Mini Skirts
Blazers
Car Coats
Cuffed Sleeves
Strappy Shoes
White Buttons
Crew Neck
Maxi Dresses
Cowel Neck
Embellishments
Brooches
Bubble Sleeves
High-waisted Skirts
Tie Dye
Combination Patterns
Sheer fabric
Light and flowy
Pink Buttons
Chunky heel
Panelled Skirt/Dress
Pointed toe with strap
One Shouldered Dress
Interesting Neck line details
Structure amongst flowly
Quarter length sleeves

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Color Blocking
Sheer
Collared Shirts
Highlighted Waistline
Strappy Heels
Waist Jackets
Billow Arms
Cuffed Sleeves
Waist Belts
Flowly Skirts with Trains
Long Pencil Skirts
Mini Skirts
Embellishments
Brooches
Structured lines
Blazers
Metallic
Combinations of Patterns
Crew Neck Lines
Thick Sleeves
Slicked Back Panel of Hair
Darker Makeup
Flowy Material
Pastel Colors
Bright Colors
Sunglasses
Belts
Halter
Pencil Skirts
Mini Skirts
Ruffles
Crop Pants
Color Blocking
Cuff Bracelet
Clutches
Lines
Geometric
Billowing Sleeves
Trains on Dresses
Metallic
Birds
Earthy
Botanical
Scarves
Slick back hair with wisps
Kitten Heels
N
Ankle straps

2012

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Carolina Herreras Spring 2013 Show opened with a damask backdrop and eerie music. The music then turned to a mysterious
girl power song, perfect for the models to strut to. The clothing was mostly pastels but had a specific punch of color that got your
attention whether it be dark on light contrast or a brighter color amongst the pastels. Herrera played a lot with chiffon and flowy
fabrics. It was very whimsical to watch the garments with train come down the runway. It wouldnt be a true Carolina Herrera Show
without the re-interpretation of the collared blow and waist accentuation. I thoroughly enjoyed this show. It was bright, colorful,
sophisticated, playful and fun. I would wear every piece from this line. The only thing negative I have to say in regards to production of this line, because I think it is highly marketable, would be the sheer lace dresses. I feel like there is a lot of detail and that it
might not be efficient to produce and sell with heavy time constraints. Not only that but I dont foresee anyone wanting their breasts
to be exposed in their daily wear around town. The critics said that this line stretched Herrera and that they werent impressed with
it. I dont find this to be incredibly accurate, because I can tell she was trying to reach a younger demographic and with the looks
she produced I think she totally grasped what a mid-20s women would want to wear on the move.

(Harrison, 2011)

Carolina Herreras Fall 2013 show opened with a very dark, almost
black background and dark, anxious music. The strut of the models was
very intense and driven, they were walking with a purpose. There was
almost this sense of powerful femininity in the air for the show. Herrera presented looks with brown, tan and black hues. It was very fur and
texture heavy. The models wore sunglasses, which insisted a sense of
mischievousness. I believe this show would be very marketable in the
cool weather and predominantly winter regions. The collection looks
very warm and comfortable, but they garments almost look like they are
weighing the models down with how heavy the materials used to make
to looks were. This could be problematic for production because typically thick, heavy textiles are extremely expensive and you would have
to do a lot of treating for the leather, suede and fur in order to make
it market ready. The crocodile for this show was very congested, the
models did not do a great job at spacing and made it distracting for the
audience to concentrate on the clothing, because they were anticipating
a crash within the line up.

Carolina Herreras Fall 2012 Show opened with fade in to que the model. There was no effects
for this show. The hair of the models was in a bouffant either tied back with a bow or held
back by a headband. The first line is navy and black with head wraps, short jackets, cropped
pants and wedge booties. This show started off with fur accents, which I love! It transitioned
into sparkles for holiday season wear with jackets, dresses and blouses that are embellished.
Herrera had impeccable dress design, her dresses in this collection, in my opinion, are what
will make this line successful. I didnt feel a strong connection to any one garment, thinking
that I had to have it. I did, however, love the full-skirted dress where Herrera incorporated
pockets. I love a dress with pockets. The music switches from another eerie song to a fingersnapping song that reminded me of the Adams Family. The garments seem to get darker
with this music, so it is fitting for my imagination to continue that story. As for production,
I could see the dresses with all the beading in this collection to be something that would
need to be modified. The time constraints would make this incredibly expensive and not very
marketable. I could see a lot of the dresses within this collection show on the red carpet and
worn by celebrities but I think that might be as far as they go. I think that the most marketable line within the collection would definitely be the second to last collection as well as the
last collection. This is where Herrera combines all of her previous patterns from the lines
before them and makes garments full of personality through her color blocking skills. The
last thing that I found interesting about this show was the fact that for the crocodile all of the
models filed out in two lines, rather than just one and crossed each other at the center front
of the runway creating an interesting look for the audience as a recap of all the garments are
presented.

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Carolina Herreras Spring 2012 Show opened with a fun, bouncy and exciting song that immediately tells
you what the collection is going to entail. The entrance of the runway was based with pillars which makes
the show more visually appealing to the audience. It makes you want to see the models as they are walking
through the pillars almost to the point that you arent pay attention to those that are actually on the runway. This could be distracting for audiences as well and take away from the show in its entirety. The looks
for this collection are portrayed with very vibrant colors and mixed with pattern upon pattern. Herreras
take on this runway presentation was very geometric and structured with her construction. So, although
the looks are fun and exciting they still stay in tune with Herreras sophisticated, chic look.