Carolina Herrera presented the ode to her impressive 37-year career and to her success in keeping elegance alive and thriving, at the Museum of Modern Art on February 12th, 2018.
For her last adieu, the house opted to celebrate and embrace the Herrera woman. As the icon herself said in an NYTimes video interview in 2014, “The Carolina Herrera woman is a global woman, they like to be sophisticated and they don’t mind to be called elegant.”
And elegance is certainly vibrant. There were pleats, there was beading, and most importantly there was color! Inside the backstage just minutes before the show started, sets of colorful full skirts stood out amongst the sea of black dressed staff and white coated couturiers.
As one of the few ateliers left in New York City, Carolina Herrera is not afraid to show her Maison’s army of artisans with impeccable skills. Formality, admiration, and respect are seen both with Mrs. Herrera and with the new creative director, Wes Gordon.
While the men and women in their lab coats made their finishing touches, Madame Herrera, as she is referred to by some of her team, entered the room in her iconic white button-down shirt and pearls.
She delicately reviewed the collection while laughing gallantly with her guests. She then welcomed Anna Wintour to preview the collection before it was shown on the runway.
To complement the lively collection, hair and beauty were refined and simple.
For the final hairstyle under the reign of the queen of elegance, Odile Gilbert, the NYFW TRESemmé stylist, went with a romantic yet modern chignon. “It is romantic and cool at the same time, in a way that any woman can do this herself.”
TRESemmé achieved this look by prepping the hair with TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner, Spray TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray and TRESemmé Volumizing Dry Shampoo for a little texture. To seal the look, Gilbert used the NEW Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray Hold Level 3: Boost.
With colorful tulle and taffeta skirts and romantic hairdos, the models hit the runway to the perfect tunes of Night and Day by Ella Fitzgerald. As a grand finale, the models walked out in the signature Carolina Herrera look: white crisp button down shirt paired up with a full solid skirt and contrasting belt.
Mrs. Herrera came out one last time accompanied by her loyal atelier members and received a standing ovation front rowed by family and dear friends such as Calvin Klein, Karlie Kloss, Susie Menkes, André Leon Talley and Nicky Hilton. Wes Gordon, her successor, later joined the runway and together they welcomed a new beginning.
