It’s been 40 years since Carolina Herrera stormed on to the fashion scene with a Metropolitan Club show to remember. The Studio 54 regular, who brightened up society pages alongside Bianca Jagger, channelled her knack for sublimely elegant dressing into a womenswear brand that was catnip for Manhattanites. Herrera’s own personal uniform – a fresh white shirt tucked into a voluminous skirt – became an exquisite exemplar of everything the house stood for: class and refinement, but always with a dash of playfulness. She is continually referenced on the moodboards of other designers today.
Read more: 23 Photographs That Prove Studio 54 Was Iconic
To celebrate four decades of the businesswoman who gave fashion a polished take on New York dynamism through a European couture lens, Herrera’s successor, Wes Gordon, is designing a special Ruby collection in honour of his mentor. Encompassing the same alegría de vivir – the joy of living – that Carolina Herrera has always been known for, the capsule features sweeping paillette gowns, Swarovski-capped lipstick holders and Good Girl perfume bottles in Gordon’s favourite Herrera colour combination – red and pink. Symbolising Herrera’s dedication to fabulousness – and also including her beloved Matryoshka tote and the Metropolitan Insignia evening clutch – the capsule shows the breadth of the Carolina Herrera world to this day.
It’s no coincidence that the special customisable make-up and hugely popular scents – Good Girl is a top 10 feminine fragrance in the UK – are launching at Harrods in November, just in time for the party season. Carolina Herrera is and will always be a leader in quintessentially glamorous fashion; the ultimate celebration brand with female empowerment at its core. Herrera broke glass ceilings when she founded her label at the age of 40, and now Gordon is paving the way for another four decades of Carolina Herrera style.
Which collectables to buy? The Vogue editors are investing in the stiletto pumps, which are the perfect fusion of Herrera’s aesthetic and Gordon’s own design flourishes, including his signature bow. Both sophisticated and exuberant, it’s hard to think of a better accessory for a celebration. Happy birthday, Carolina Herrera! Forty never looked better. As Wes himself put its, “I am excited to see what is in store for Herrera for the next 40 years.”
Discover the full Carolina Herrera Beauty Collection at Harrods.com
