Carolina Herrera Explained

Carolina Herrera
Birth Name:María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño
Birth Date:8 January 1939
Birth Place:Caracas, Venezuela
Children:4

Carolina Herrera (born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño; 8 January 1939[1]) is a Venezuelan fashion designer known for her personal style,[2] and for dressing various First Ladies of the United States, including Jacqueline Onassis, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump.[3] [4]

Early life

María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño[5] was born on 8 January 1939, in Caracas, Venezuela, to Guillermo Pacanins Acevedo, an air force officer and former governor of Caracas,[6] and María Cristina Niño Passios.[7] Her socialite grandmother introduced her to the world of fashion, taking young Carolina to shows by Balenciaga and buying her outfits at Lanvin and Dior. She has said, "My eye was accustomed to seeing pretty things."[8]

Early career

In 1965, Herrera began her career working as a publicist for Emilio Pucci, a Florentine Marquis himself and a close family friend. She began working at Pucci's Caracas boutique, and moved to New York in 1980.[9] Frequently associating with Mick and Bianca Jagger and Andy Warhol, at Studio 54, she became well known for her dramatic style. She first appeared on the International Best Dressed List in 1972, then was elected to its Hall of Fame in 1980.[8]

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera New York
Type:Private
Foundation:1980
Location:New York City
Ourense, Spain
Key People:Carolina Herrera
Industry:Luxury Clothing
Products:Clothes, perfume

Early years

In 1981, her friend Diana Vreeland, then Editor-in-Chief of Vogue suggested that Carolina design a clothing line. She did so, having samples made in Caracas, and debuted her collection at Manhattan's Metropolitan Club to critical acclaim.[10] A well known Park Avenue boutique, Martha's, agreed to showcase her clothing in their prominent windows. Upon this initial success, she returned to Caracas and raised capital to fund a more formal launch. Her first runway show was held at the Metropolitan Club for fall 1981[11] and included future supermodel Iman;[12] it was the first time the venue had permitted a fashion show within its walls.[13]

The company has been based in New York City since 1980, and in 1981 the brand received recognition from several key publications, including Women's Wear Daily and Tatler, with particular early attention to her well designed sleeves. Carolina Herrera presents her Ready-to-Wear Collection semiannually at New York Fashion Week.[14] [15]

A few of her most notable clients have included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who asked her to design the dress for her daughter Caroline's wedding, Diana, Duchess of Cadaval, who asked her to design the dress for her marriage with Prince Charles-Philippe of Orléans, Duke of Anjou,[16] and actress Renée Zellweger.

Takeover by Puig

From 1988, Spanish fragrance company Puig licensed the Carolina Herrera name to develop and market a line of perfumes.[17] In 1995, the firm acquired the Carolina Herrera fashion business, retaining her as Creative Director.[18]

CH, Herrera’s bridge line, was discontinued in 1993 before being replaced in 1994 by the Studio line, which in turn was discontinued in 1996.[19] In 2008, the company launched a ready-to-wear brand called CH Carolina Herrera, a lifestyle line that offers a range of products for women, men and children, with a strong emphasis on accessories and leather goods handcrafted in Spain. The brand is licensed by Sociedad Textil Lonia, a privately owned company from Galicia, Spain.[20] Each label is run as a separate company and has separate offices.[21]

As of 2011, her daughters Carolina Jr. and Patricia Lansing participated in the creative direction and design.[22] As of 2012, there were 18 Carolina Herrera and CH Carolina Herrera boutiques in the world, and her lines were carried in 280 stores in 104 countries.[23] In February 2016, it was reported by WWD that the fragrance side of the business had more than 25,000 points of sale across the globe while the CH brand included 129 freestanding stores.[24]

For their advertising campaigns, the Carolina Herrera and CH Carolina Herrera brands have been working with photographers including Miles Aldridge (1997),[19] Arthur Elgort (1997),[19] Patrick Demarchelier (1997, 2011),[19] Terry Richardson (2004),[25] [26] Mario Sorrenti (2007),[27] Greg Kadel (2014),[28] Mario Testino (2015–2018),[29] [30] Brigitte Lacombe (2023)[31] and François Halard (2024).[32]

In late 2016, the company filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court seeking to block designer Laura Kim – a consultant who had been offered to succeed Carolina Herrera as creative director – from joining Oscar de la Renta. By early 2017, the two brands and Kim reached a settlement, allowing Kim to take up her role as co-creative director with Fernando Garcia.[33]

In 2018, Herrera showed her last line for her eponymous brand and handed creative directorship of the brand over to Wes Gordon.[34]

Fragrances

By 2014, there were 15 core fragrances under the Carolina Herrera, CH and 212 Carolina Herrera brands.[35] In 2016, Herrera released Good Girl, her new women's fragrance and her biggest fragrance launch in 14 years; Karlie Kloss was named the face of the fragrance.[36]

Accessories

From 1994 to 1996, Herrera had a licensed leather goods and scarf line with Swoboda International. The line was subsequently produced in-house.[19]

Eyewear

For the design, production and global distribution of sunglasses and optical frames, Carolina Herrera has been working with licensing partners Indo (1997),[19] De Rigo Vision (2011–2021)[37] and Safilo (since 2022).[38]

Other activities

Since 2004, Herrera has been a member of the board of directors of jewelry designer Mimi So,[39] and since 1999 on the board of the CFDA.[40]

Recognition

In 2008, Herrera was awarded the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award[41] from the Council of Fashion Designers of America,[42] and "Womenswear Designer of the Year" in 2004. Herrera is a recipient of The International Center in New York's Award of Excellence as well as Spain's Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts, which was presented to her in 2002 by King Juan Carlos I.[43] She was awarded the Gold Medal of the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute in 1997.[44]

She received the Fashion Group International Superstar Award,[45] the Style Awards Designer of the Year in 2012[46] and the "Mercedes-Benz Presents" title for her 2011 collection.[47] She has been on the cover of Vogue seven times.

In 2005, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement during the International Achievement Summit in New York City.[48] [49]

In 2014, she earned the 2014 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.[50]

Personal life

In 1957, at the age of 18, Herrera married Guillermo Behrens Tello, a Venezuelan landowner.[51] Before their eventual divorce in 1964, they became the parents of two daughters:[52]

In 1968, in Caracas, she married Reinaldo Herrera Guevara, who had inherited the Spanish title The 5th Marquis of Torre Casa in 1962 upon his father's death.[55] [56] Reinaldo was the host of Buenos Días, a Venezuelan morning-television news program and the elder son of Don Reinaldo Herrera Uslar, 4th Marquis of Torre Casa, a prominent Venezuelan sugarcane plantation owner, aristocrat, and art collector.[57] Therefore, by marriage, Carolina held the title The Marquise consort of Torre Casa, until it was retracted in 1992, as Reinaldo had issued no son.[58] Her husband is a special-projects editor of Vanity Fair magazine. Together, they have two daughters, and six grandchildren, including:

In 2009, Herrera became a naturalized United States citizen.[65]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: La Vanguardia Ediciones Newspaper, Jan. 22, 2013 – Subject Page – Carolina Herrera . 2013-01-22 . 2015-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150710023814/http://www.lavanguardia.com/temas/carolina-herrera/index.html . dead .
  2. Web site: Vanity Fair . . 2013-03-16. 2013-06-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130627172003/http://www.vanityfair.com/video/2011/08/the-best-dressed-women-of-all-time--carolina-herrera_1115523611001#page=4&plid=14120492001 . dead .
  3. News: Melania Trump Helped Hervé Pierre Design Her Inaugural Ball Gown. Tuck. Lauren. 21 January 2017. 21 January 2017. 11 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230511041858/https://www.yahoo.com/news/melania-trump-makes-elegant-and-understated-style-statement-at-inaugural-balls-031614079.html. live.
  4. News: For Carolina Herrera, Tranquillity Amid Success. Morris. Bernadine. 4 January 1994. The New York Times. 2012-12-05. 31 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170831092158/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/04/style/for-carolina-herrera-tranquillity-amid-success.html. live.
  5. Web site: Vogue Espana Biography of Carolina Herrera . 22 February 2013 . 7 December 2013 . 16 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230616211259/https://www.vogue.es/moda/modapedia/disenadores/carolina-herrera/8 . live .
  6. News: Ana L. Behrens-Pacanins Is Married To Luis Paraud-Carpena, Developer . The New York Times . 14 October 1989 . 6 February 2017 . 9 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180709065213/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/14/style/ana-l-behrens-pacanins-is-married-to-luis-paraud-carpena-developer.html . live .
  7. News: Reinaldo Herrera Weds in Caracas . The New York Times . 21 September 1968.
  8. Book: Kotur, Alexandra . Carolina Herrera: Portrait of a Fashion Icon . Assouline . 2004 . . 8–13.
  9. Web site: Carolina Herrera #BoF500 The Business of Fashion. The Business of Fashion. 25 February 2016. 20 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230220230605/https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/carolina-herrera-2. live.
  10. Web site: Carolina Herrera Corporate Website . Carolina Herrera . 23 July 2014 . 8 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160308205037/http://www.carolinaherrera.com/the-house/en/designer/fashion-debut . dead .
  11. Briget Foley (10 February 2016), Carolina Herrera’s Quiet Path to Power Women's Wear Daily.
  12. Alexander Fury (16 April 2018), Carolina Herrera’s Very First Show — and What It Meant for Fashion T: The New York Times Style Magazine.
  13. Alexander Fury (16 April 2018), Carolina Herrera’s Very First Show — and What It Meant for Fashion T: The New York Times Style Magazine.
  14. Web site: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . 5 February 2013 . Bauknecht . Sara . 2 December 2014 . 24 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130112/http://www.post-gazette.com/life/fashion/2013/02/05/WhoWHATWhereWhy-Why-does-New-York-Fashion-Week-matter/stories/201302050329 . live .
  15. Web site: New York Fashion Week Live . 9 January 2014 . Avion . Pablo . https://web.archive.org/web/20140215042237/http://newyorkfashionweeklive.com/NYFW-Live/diane-von-furstenberg-herrera-kors-will-stay-mb-fashion-week-2014 . 15 February 2014 . dead .
  16. Web site: Diana de Cadaval: "Gosto que me chamem princesa" . Expresso . 19 August 2010 . Cândida Santos . Silva . pt . 28 July 2018 . 10 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131110235725/http://expresso.sapo.pt/diana-de-cadaval-gosto-que-me-chamem-princesa=f599797 . dead .
  17. Briget Foley (10 February 2016), Carolina Herrera’s Quiet Path to Power Women's Wear Daily.
  18. Web site: Puig, a Spanish fashion empire that started with a lipstick . 26 April 2012 . Modaes . 14 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014212712/http://www.modaes.es/empresa/20110413/puig-un-imperio-espanol-de-moda-que-comenzo-con-un.html . dead .
  19. Carolina Herrera: A New Woman . . Arthur Friedman . 19 August 1997.
  20. Lisa Lockwood (23 July 2023), CH Carolina Herrera Enlists Christy Turlington for Advertising Campaign Women's Wear Daily.
  21. Rosemary Feitelberg (6 May 2008), CH Carolina Herrera Spanning the Globe Women's Wear Daily.
  22. News: With Pops of Color . Bee-Shyuan . Chang . The New York Times . 6 May 2011 . 6 February 2017 . 5 May 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140505222637/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/fashion/08WHATIWORE.html?_r=0 . live .
  23. News: How Carolina Herrera turned being chic into big business . Felicia . Taylor . CNN . 14 March 2012 . 22 January 2013 . 16 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130116023558/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/13/business/herrera-fashion-business/index.html . live .
  24. News: Foley . Bridget . Carolina Herrera's Quiet Path to Power . 3 May 2016 . WWD . 10 February 2016 . 26 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160426100146/http://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/carolina-herrera-fashion-elite-nyfw-10343673/ . live .
  25. https://wwd.com/feature/herrera-turns-jersey-girl-739995-1896624/ Herrera Turns Jersey Girl
  26. Rosemary Feitelberg (15 June 2011), Memo Pad: Carolina Herrera’s Flashback… Jean Paul Gaultier’s Paper Project… Women's Wear Daily.
  27. Rosemary Feitelberg (7 February 2007), Family Matters for Herrera Campaign Women's Wear Daily.
  28. Lisa Lockwood (15 July 2014), Carolina Herrera Shows Bette Franke in Multiple Dimensions for Fall Women's Wear Daily.
  29. Web site: Carolina Herrera confie sa dernière campagne à Willy Vanderperre . 26 January 2015 . ladepeche.fr . . fr . 8 April 2015 . 1 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170901224450/http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2015/01/26/2036613-carolina-herrera-confie-sa-derniere-campagne-a-willy-vanderperre.html . live .
  30. Rosemary Feitelberg (9 February 2018), Puig’s Plan Appears Achieved: Carolina Herrera to Hand Design Reins Over to Wes Gordon Women's Wear Daily.
  31. Lisa Lockwood (23 July 2023), CH Carolina Herrera Enlists Christy Turlington for Advertising Campaign Women's Wear Daily.
  32. Lisa Lockwood (30 April 2024), CH Carolina Herrera Enlists Interiors Photographer François Halard for Latest Campaign With Liya Kebede Women's Wear Daily.
  33. Evan Clark (6 January 2017), Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta Settle Legal Battle Women's Wear Daily.
  34. 22 July 2022 . Wes Gordon Answers the High Society Vibe Shift . 12 May 2023 . Harper's Bazaar . 12 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512145920/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/designers/a40689390/wes-gordon-carolina-herrera/ . live .
  35. Rosemary Feitelberg (11 July 2014), Carolina Herrera’s Elegant World Women's Wear Daily.
  36. Web site: Carolina Herrera's 'Good Girl' Scent Aims to Make a Mark . 12 July 2014 . WWD . 12 August 2016 . 5 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160805121325/http://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/fragrance/carolina-herrera-karlie-kloss-good-girl-need-headline-10485455/ . live .
  37. Rachel Strugatz (2 November 2011), Carolina Herrera Doubles Up for Eyewear Women's Wear Daily.
  38. Martino Carrera (15 July 2021), Carolina Herrera, Safilo Ink Five-year Eyewear License Women's Wear Daily.
  39. Web site: Carolina Herrera joining Mimi So board . Fashion Week Daily . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221165046/http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/the-fix/article/1173 . 21 February 2014 .
  40. Web site: CFDA board taps Wang, Von Furstenberg, Spade . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222163518/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2039123/cfda-board-taps-wang-von-furstenberg-spade . dead . 22 February 2014 . Women's Wear Daily . 1 July 1999 . 178 . 1 . 11.
  41. CFDA Announces 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards Nominations . 14 March 2008 . 31 December 2009 . CFDA . 10 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140810012022/http://cfda.com/the-latest/cfda-announces-2008-cfda-fashion-awards-nominations . live.
  42. Web site: Bio page and timeline for Carolina Herrera . Vogue . 22 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130105114222/http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Carolina_Herrera . 5 January 2013 . dead .
  43. Web site: Madrid with Carolina Herrera . Travel+Leisure . October 2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120208091421/http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/spanish-steps/1 . 8 February 2012 . dead .
  44. Web site: Spanish Institute Gala Announcement . 3 August 2010 . 30 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210130132222/http://spanishinstitute.org/spanish_institute_gala.php . dead .
  45. Web site: Carolina Herrera Is An Honorary Superstar . Elle . 16 July 2012 . Hadas . Margulies . 22 January 2013 . 19 July 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120719030630/http://www.elle.com/news/fashion-style/carolina-herrera-is-an-honorary-superstar . live .
  46. Web site: Style Awards Honor Carolina Herrera, Reed Krakoff . WWD . 7 September 2012 . Rosemary . Feitelberg . 22 January 2013 . 11 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120911034901/http://www.wwd.com/eye/people/style-awards-honor-herrera-krakoff-6236780 . live .
  47. Web site: Mercedes-Benz Presents Title Given to Fashion Designer Carolina Herrera . Jim . Davis . eMercedesBenz.com . 24 August 2010 . 19 September 2010 . 29 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100929093055/http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/mercedes-benz/corporate-news/mercedes-benz-presents-title-given-to-fashion-designer-carolina-herrera/ . live .
  48. Web site: Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement. www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement. 29 September 2020. 15 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#business. live.
  49. Web site: 2005 Summit Highlights . . 29 September 2020 . 19 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210119062513/https://achievement.org/summit/2005/ . live .
  50. The Couture Council to Honor Carolina Herrera . Women's Wear Daily . 7 February 2014 . 7 February 2014 . Karimzadeh . Marc . 26 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140226033621/http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/herreras-honor-7417294?src=nl/mornReport/20140207 . live .
  51. Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopaedia, Volume 1, pages 325-326
  52. From Venezuela to Seventh Avenue, Carolina Herrera's Fashions Cast a Long Shadow . Harriet . Shapiro . People . 3 May 1982 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110310202020/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20082058,00.html . 10 March 2011 . dead .
  53. News: Carolina Herrera Hosts Second Annual Fundraising Event for the FundaHigado America Foundation . 11 May 2019 . World Red Eye . 10 April 2017 . 11 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511165130/https://worldredeye.com/2017/04/carolina-herrera-hosts-second-annual-fundraising-event-fundahigado-america-foundation/ . live .
  54. News: Ana Behrens-Pacanins Is Married To Luis Paraud-Carpena, Developer . The New York Times . 14 October 1989 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090529022900/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/14/style/ana-l-behrens-pacanins-is-married-to-luis-paraud-carpena-developer.html . 29 May 2009 . dead .
  55. Web site: Gobierno De Espana, Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado – Order 3742 . 1 February 1975 . 22 January 2013 . 23 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923230345/http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1975/02/20/pdfs/A03632-03633.pdf . live .
  56. News: My Secret Life: Carolina Herrera, fashion designer, 71 . The Independent . Charlotte . Philby . London . 6 March 2010 . 19 September 2017 . 6 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180106091214/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-carolina-herrera-fashion-designer-71-1915501.html . live .
  57. News: Maria Herrera-Uslar; Society Figure Was 78 . The New York Times . 28 December 1992 . 6 February 2017 . 15 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180115132052/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/28/obituaries/maria-herrera-uslar-society-figure-was-78.html . live .
  58. Web site: Gobierno De Espana, Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado – Order 26340 . 16 March 1992 . 22 January 2013 . 28 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160528152247/http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1992/11/27/pdfs/A40400-40400.pdf . live .
  59. News: Abramovitch . Ingrid . Spanish Influence: Carolina Herrera Baez at Home . 11 May 2019 . . 14 September 2012 . 11 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511165111/https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/house-interiors/a5508/carolina-herrera-baez-madrid/ . live .
  60. Web site: 2023-03-01 . Descubrimos a Pedro de Noronha, el atractivo inversor portugués que ha enamorado a Carolina Herrera . 2023-10-29 . HOLA . es . 29 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231029230013/https://www.hola.com/actualidad/20230301343198/carolina-herrera-novio-pedro-noronha-quien-es/ . live .
  61. News: LANSING--Gerrit Livingston . 11 May 2019 . . 31 July 2010 . 28 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200528000608/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/NYTimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=144372122&searchResultPosition=2 . live .
  62. News: WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Patricia Herrera, Gerrit Lansing Jr. . 11 May 2019 . . 24 November 2002 . 19 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190419214224/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/24/style/weddings-celebrations-patricia-herrera-gerrit-lansing-jr.html . live .
  63. News: Chang . Bee-Shyuan . What a Carolina Herrera Daughter and Consultant Is Wearing . 11 May 2019 . . 6 May 2011 . 11 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511165110/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/fashion/08WHATIWORE.html . live .
  64. News: Keltner de Valle . Jane . Designer Patrick McGrath Brings New Life to Patricia Herrera Lansing's New York City Home . 11 May 2019 . . 22 April 2019 . en . 11 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190511165109/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/designer-patrick-mcgrath-brings-new-life-to-patricia-herrera-lansings-new-york-city-home . live .
  65. News: Carolina Herrera Makes It Official . 25 September 2009 . . 6 February 2011 . Romney . Leader. https://web.archive.org/web/20090930065555/http://www.style.com/stylefile/2009/09/carolina-herrera-makes-it-official/. 2009-09-30.