A Life In
A History of Carolina Herrera, New York’s OG Classy Lady, in Her Own Words
“True style money can’t buy:” Follow us through four decades’ worth of sage wisdom from the design icon, Carolina Herrera.
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Mid ’50s
With dog, Red, at age 15, Caracas.
“Maybe fashion was sleeping in me and suddenly it woke up. Because when I was growing up, my great interest was my horses, tennis and that’s it, and dogs and normal life, not about fashion.”
Photographed by Fina Gomez, 1955.
“The first thing I ever designed was a black dress, for myself, when I was 14 or 15. I wanted to be a vamp since I started watching movies from the 1930s and ’40s with Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo, where they wore veils and hats and carried cigarette holders. My parents never allowed me to wear the dress after I made it.
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Mid ’60s
With, husband, Reinaldo, on their wedding day, Caracas, 1968.
“It’s important to have love in one’s life, because it makes us more human and, incidentally, more beautiful.”
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Early ’70s
Photographed by Andres Lander, 1971
“You don’t have to be afraid of getting older; fear is the most disgusting thing.”
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Mid ’70s
With husband, Reinaldo, Caracas, 1974.
“I think I was madly in love with Reinaldo when I was 15 or 16, but then he went to Europe. He has always been my great love.”
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Mid ’70s
Hacienda La Vega, Venezuela, 1970-1971.
“I stand for glamour and consistency.”
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Mid ’70s
Photographedby PaulJasmin, 1980.
“It’s not simply that you are going to create a collection and you lock yourself in a black room and wait until the muses come down. It doesn’t work that way. You have to be designing for the women of today. Everything is an inspiration. A conversation is an inspiration—colors, anything— if you have your eyes open.”
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Late ’70s
With Jacqueline de Ribes at the Met Gala, 1979.
That was so much fun, New York in the ’70s. You were mixed musicians, they were all mixed. You used to go to dinners and find literature, and in the movie business. Actors, actresses, with a lot of creative people—talent—in the art world, in society, everybody together. It was fun. I loved it.”
Studio 54 New Year’sEve party ,1978–1979. Photographed by John Bright.
With Sandy Linter and friends at Studio 54 New Year’s Eve party, 1978-1979. Photographed by Tod Papageorge.
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Early ’80s
With husband Reinaldo Herrera at the Met Gala, 1983. Photographed by Patrick McMullan
“Fashion is all about proportion. It has to be perfect.”
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Early ’80s
With model at the Fall/Winter 1981 show. Photographed by John Bright,1981. Courtesy the Fairchild Archive.
“You can take ideas from the past, but you cannot take the ideas exactly as they were. It is the details that you use in your collections that make it exciting and new and modern.”
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Early ’80s
With Diane DeWitt, Resort 1988. Photographed by George Chinsee. Courtesy Fairchild Archive.
“Elegance, beauty, and femininity are three key elements for a collection designed by a woman.”
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Mid ’80s
Mustique, 1985. Getty Images.
“I know you are supposed to think of yourself as a brand these days but I think of myself as a person.”
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Mid ’80s
At Sandy Gallin’s birthday party, May 1988. Photographed by Ron Galella, Getty Images.
“Fashion is magical, fashion is a dream.”
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Late ’80s
With (from left) Fran Lebowitz, André Leon Talley,and Gwen Verdon, at SusanneBartsch’s Love Ball with CFDA,1989. Getty Images.
“The ’80s were all about opulence. I did big skirts, embroidery, things like that. Suddenly, a moment came in fashion that was sort of minimalist, and I found it very boring because fashion is about details — you cannot have something with nothing.”
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Late ’80s
At her East 57th Street studio, New York City, 1987. Photographed by Rose Hartman, Getty Images
“I’m not always in a white shirt. People think I live in a ball gown or a white shirt. Do they think I wear a gown to walk down Madison Avenue? I’m sorry. And I wear a white shirt when I feel like it!”
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Mid ’90s
At “The Fragrance that Dresses a Dream” event, 1993.
“Every designer should have a scent. If it’s successful, it’s amazing. It helps with everything. You are everywhere in a little bottle the people buy.”
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Mid ’90s
At the firstCarolinaHerrera Bridal runway show, 1987.
“I love bridal, always. You know why I love it? Because it’s full of hope and love.”
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Mid ’90s
With daughter, Carolina A.Herrera, 1990s.
It’s quite useful to have your children in the company. They tell you immediately if they don’t like something.”
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Mid ’90s
with Gisele Bündchen, Fall/Winter 1996 fitting. Photographed by George Chinsee.
“There is a lot of pressure to change all the time. But it’s better to wear what suits you. Add something new and you have a great look. Consistency is important.”
Photographed by Arthur Elgort, 1998.
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Early ’00s
In her New York City office, 1996– 1997.
“The most important thing in the world for me is a sense of humor. You can be with the ugliest man but with the best sense of humor, and you’ll have the best time, right?”
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Early ’00s
Photographed by Bruce Weber, 2001.
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Early ’00s
With Carolina A. Herrera and Reinaldo at the Wayuu Tayabenefit, 2003. Getty Images
“What’s the most boring subject? I’ll tell you: yourself !”
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Early ’10s
With CalvinKlein at theMet Gala, 2010.
“If I like it, I wear it forever. I’ve never understood why you wouldn’t repeat a dress if you like it.”
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Late ’10s
Carolina Herrera Atelier FW2018
“Fashion must be for today. That doesn’t mean I’m going to go to an extreme, with black leather leggings, or all naked. You cannot be naked. You cannot be run by the red carpet. You cannot be run by Instagram. You have to be run by your idea of what you want to show. Design with your eyes open. Make it contemporary but don’t confuse people.”
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Late ’10s
With Wes Gordon, 2018.
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Late ’10s
With Wes Gordon, 2019. Photographed by Eli Schmidt.
“Elegance never goes out of style.”
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