It took her a while to show the world her perfect fashion sense and artistic flair. Carolina Herrera created a legendary fashion house under her own name. She promoted, among others, a look with a white shirt in the leading role.
Carolina Herrera is a Venezuelan designer who celebrated her 82nd birthday this year. She is a style icon, repeatedly recognized as one of the best-dressed women in the world. Her love for fashion began in her teenage years, when she accompanied her grandmother to Cristóbal Balenciaga’s show, although it was a long time before she decided to work in the industry.
She studied biochemistry, married twice and only later moved to New York, where Andy Warhol admired her in Studio 54. In exchange for a gold and diamond studded clutch bag, he agreed to create her portrait, which then caught the attention of legendary Vogue publisher Diana Vreeland. It was at her urging that Carolina Herrera launched her first collection at New York’s Metropolitan Club in 1981.
It quickly attracted the attention of the public and the designer’s position was strengthened by subsequent shows. The most popular magazines wrote about her and everything sold like hot cakes.
After 37 years Carolina Herrera handed over the reins of her fashion house to Wes Gordon. To this day, however, she acts as a global ambassador of the brand.
No woman’s closet is complete without at least one white shirt. It does not have to be formal – it can be loose, oversized, with colorful or lace inserts, with transparencies, with balloon sleeves, with buffets, straight, slim-fit, ultra-short, very long, of avant-garde construction, plain. The possibilities are practically endless.
White shirt is extremely universal, timeless and versatile. You can wear it every day, to work and to business meetings and big events
Since the very beginning of her adventure with designing, Carolina Herrera promoted different versions of it. The white shirt appeared in every collection. She also liked to wear it herself. Her look with a white shirt and a circle skirt became cult. In addition, the collar is turned up to slenderize the neck and figure, and the sleeves are rolled up. The whole look is nonchalant and stylish. It is a perfect outfit for a woman of any age.
Carolina Herrera is a perfectionist, which she expressed for example while designing a wedding dress for Caroline Kennedy in 1986. The stunning creation hit the headlines, enjoying huge recognition. Following suit, the following year Carolina decided to release an entire collection of wedding dresses – in muslin and silk – that became a dream for many women.
Equally stunning were her evening gowns, business fashion, and everyday closet pieces. Celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Tina Fey and Renée Zellweger, among others, have seen her designs.
Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
