Wikipedia

Carolina Herrera

For the Venezuelan beauty pageant winner and actress, see Astrid Carolina Herrera.

Carolina Herrera (born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño; 8 January 1939[2]) is a Venezuelan American fashion designer.[3] Known for her personal style, she founded her namesake brand in 1980. Herrera has dressed various First Ladies of the United States, including Jacqueline Onassis, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump.[4][5][6]

Carolina Herrera
Herrera in 2007
Born
María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño[1]

(1939-01-08) 8 January 1939 (age 85)
Caracas, Venezuela
Citizenship
  • Venezuela
  • United States
Labels
  • Carolina Herrera New York
  • CH Carolina Herrera
Spouses
  • Guillermo Behrens Tello
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1957; div. 1964)​
  • Reinaldo Herrera Guevara
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1968)​
Children4

Early life

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María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño was born on 8 January 1939 in Caracas, Venezuela.[1][2] Her father, Guillermo Pacanins Acevedo, was an Air Force officer and her mother, María Cristina Niño Passios, was a former governor of Caracas.[7][8] 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."[9]

Early career

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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.[10] Frequently associating with the New York glitterati such as Andy Warhol, Halston, Diana Vreeland, and Bianca Jagger, she became well known for her dramatic style.[11] She first appeared on the International Best Dressed List in 1972, then was elected to its Hall of Fame in 1980.[9]

Carolina Herrera

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Carolina Herrera New York
Company typePrivate
IndustryLuxury Clothing
Founded1980
HeadquartersNew York City
Ourense, Spain
Key people
Carolina Herrera
ProductsClothes, perfume
Websitecarolinaherrera.com
 
Herrera at a fashion show in 2008

Early years

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Herrera's mentor Diana Vreeland, then Editor-in-Chief of Vogue suggested that she design a clothing line.[12] Herrera founded her clothing line in 1980, and had samples made in Caracas. She debuted her collection at Manhattan's Metropolitan Club to critical acclaim.[13] 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. She debuted her first full collection at the Metropolitan Club in April 1981.[14] The show included supermodel Iman and was the first time the venue permitted a fashion show within its walls.[4][9]

In 1981, her brand received recognition from several key publications, including Women's Wear Daily and Tatler, with particular early attention to her well-designed sleeves. Herrera presents her Ready-to-Wear Collection semiannually at New York Fashion Week.[15][16]

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,[17] and actress Renée Zellweger.[9]

Takeover by Puig

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From 1988, Spanish fragrance company Puig licensed the Carolina Herrera name to develop and market a line of perfumes.[18] In 1995, the firm acquired the Carolina Herrera fashion business, retaining her as Creative Director.[19]

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.[20] 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.[21] Each label is run as a separate company and has separate offices.[22]

As of 2011, her daughters Carolina Jr. and Patricia Lansing participated in the creative direction and design.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25]

For their advertising campaigns, the Carolina Herrera and CH Carolina Herrera brands have been working with photographers including Miles Aldridge (1997),[20] Arthur Elgort (1997),[20] Patrick Demarchelier (1997, 2011),[20] Terry Richardson (2004),[26][27] Mario Sorrenti (2007),[28] Greg Kadel (2014),[29] Mario Testino (2015–2018),[30][31] Brigitte Lacombe (2023)[32] and François Halard (2024).[33]

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.[34]

In 2018, Herrera showed her last line for her eponymous brand and handed creative directorship of the brand over to Wes Gordon.[35]

Fragrances

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By 2014, there were 15 core fragrances under the Carolina Herrera, CH and 212 Carolina Herrera brands.[36] 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.[37]

Accessories

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From 1994 to 1996, Herrera had a licensed leather goods and scarf line with Swoboda International. The line was subsequently produced in-house.[20]

Eyewear

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For the design, production and global distribution of sunglasses and optical frames, Carolina Herrera has been working with licensing partners Indo (1997),[20] De Rigo Vision (2011–2021)[38] and Safilo (since 2022).[39]

Other activities

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Since 2004, Herrera has been a member of the board of directors of jewelry designer Mimi So,[40] and since 1999 on the board of the CFDA.[41]

Recognition

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In 2008, Herrera was awarded the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award[42] from the Council of Fashion Designers of America,[43] 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.[44] She was awarded the Gold Medal of the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute in 1997.[45]

She received the Fashion Group International Superstar Award,[46] the Style Awards Designer of the Year in 2012[47] and the "Mercedes-Benz Presents" title for her 2011 collection.[48] She has been on the cover of Vogue seven times.[43]

In 2005, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement during the International Achievement Summit in New York City.[49][50]

In 2014, she earned the 2014 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.[51]

Personal life

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In 1957, at the age of 18, Herrera married Guillermo Behrens Tello, a Venezuelan landowner.[52] Before their eventual divorce in 1964, they became the parents of two daughters:[53]

  • Mercedes Behrens-Pacanins[54]
  • Ana Luisa Behrens-Pacanins, who married developer Luis Paraud-Carpena, the son of Maj. Gen. Fernando Paraud of Madrid, in 1989.[55]

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.[56][57][58] 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 no sons.[59] Her husband is a special-projects editor for Vanity Fair magazine.[8] Together, they have two daughters, and six grandchildren, including:[9]

  • Carolina Adriana Herrera-Pacanins (b. 1969), who married Miguel Baez.[60] She is currently dating Pedro de Noronha.[61]
  • Patricia Cristina Herrera-Pacanins, who married Gerrit Livingston Lansing Jr., a son of Suydam Rosengarten Lansing and Gerrit Livingston Lansing Sr. (a descendant of Robert Livingston),[62] in 2002.[63][64][65]

In 2009, Herrera became a naturalized United States citizen.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Vogue Espana Biography of Carolina Herrera". 22 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "La Vanguardia Ediciones Newspaper, Jan. 22, 2013 – Subject Page – Carolina Herrera". Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b Leader, Romney (25 September 2009). "Carolina Herrera Makes It Official". Style.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  4. ^ a b Tuck, Lauren (21 January 2017). "Melania Trump Helped Hervé Pierre Design Her Inaugural Ball Gown". Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  5. ^ Morris, Bernadine (4 January 1994). "For Carolina Herrera, Tranquillity Amid Success". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Vanity Fair". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  7. ^ "Ana L. Behrens-Pacanins Is Married To Luis Paraud-Carpena, Developer". The New York Times. 14 October 1989. Archived from the original on 9 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Reinaldo Herrera Weds in Caracas". The New York Times. 21 September 1968.
  9. ^ a b c d e Kotur, Alexandra (2004). "Foreword by Hamish Bowles". Carolina Herrera: Portrait of a Fashion Icon. Assouline. pp. 8–13.
  10. ^ "Carolina Herrera | #BoF500 | The Business of Fashion". The Business of Fashion. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  11. ^ Warhol, Andy; Hackett, Pat (1989). The Andy Warhol Diaries. The Archive of Contemporary Music. New York, NY: Warner Books. pp. 326, 333. ISBN 978-0-446-51426-2.
  12. ^ Codinha, Alessandra (25 July 2014). "Carolina Herrera: What I've Learned". Vogue. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Carolina Herrera Corporate Website". Carolina Herrera. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  14. ^ Borrelli-Persson, Laird (11 September 2016). "5 Things You Might Not Know About Carolina Herrera". Vogue. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  15. ^ Bauknecht, Sara (5 February 2013). "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  16. ^ Avion, Pablo (9 January 2014). "New York Fashion Week Live". Archived from the original on 15 February 2014.
  17. ^ Silva, Cândida Santos (19 August 2010). "Diana de Cadaval: "Gosto que me chamem princesa"". Expresso (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  18. ^ Briget Foley (10 February 2016), Carolina Herrera’s Quiet Path to Power Women's Wear Daily.
  19. ^ "Puig, a Spanish fashion empire that started with a lipstick". Modaes. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  20. ^ a b c d e f Arthur Friedman (19 August 1997). "Carolina Herrera: A New Woman". Women's Wear Daily.
  21. ^ Lisa Lockwood (23 July 2023), CH Carolina Herrera Enlists Christy Turlington for Advertising Campaign Women's Wear Daily.
  22. ^ Rosemary Feitelberg (6 May 2008), CH Carolina Herrera Spanning the Globe Women's Wear Daily.
  23. ^ Chang, Bee-Shyuan (6 May 2011). "With Pops of Color". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  24. ^ Taylor, Felicia (14 March 2012). "How Carolina Herrera turned being chic into big business". CNN. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  25. ^ Foley, Bridget (10 February 2016). "Carolina Herrera's Quiet Path to Power". WWD. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  26. ^ Herrera Turns Jersey Girl Women's Wear Daily, 10 February 2004.
  27. ^ Rosemary Feitelberg (15 June 2011), Memo Pad: Carolina Herrera’s Flashback… Jean Paul Gaultier’s Paper Project… Women's Wear Daily.
  28. ^ Rosemary Feitelberg (7 February 2007), Family Matters for Herrera Campaign Women's Wear Daily.
  29. ^ Lisa Lockwood (15 July 2014), Carolina Herrera Shows Bette Franke in Multiple Dimensions for Fall Women's Wear Daily.
  30. ^ "Carolina Herrera confie sa dernière campagne à Willy Vanderperre". ladepeche.fr (in French). La Dépêche du Midi. 26 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  31. ^ Rosemary Feitelberg (9 February 2018), Puig’s Plan Appears Achieved: Carolina Herrera to Hand Design Reins Over to Wes Gordon Women's Wear Daily.
  32. ^ Lisa Lockwood (23 July 2023), CH Carolina Herrera Enlists Christy Turlington for Advertising Campaign Women's Wear Daily.
  33. ^ Lisa Lockwood (30 April 2024), CH Carolina Herrera Enlists Interiors Photographer François Halard for Latest Campaign With Liya Kebede Women's Wear Daily.
  34. ^ Evan Clark (6 January 2017), Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta Settle Legal Battle Women's Wear Daily.
  35. ^ "Wes Gordon Answers the High Society Vibe Shift". Harper's Bazaar. 22 July 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  36. ^ Rosemary Feitelberg (11 July 2014), Carolina Herrera’s Elegant World Women's Wear Daily.
  37. ^ "Carolina Herrera's 'Good Girl' Scent Aims to Make a Mark". WWD. 12 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  38. ^ Rachel Strugatz (2 November 2011), Carolina Herrera Doubles Up for Eyewear Women's Wear Daily.
  39. ^ Martino Carrera (15 July 2021), Carolina Herrera, Safilo Ink Five-year Eyewear License Women's Wear Daily.
  40. ^ "Carolina Herrera joining Mimi So board". Fashion Week Daily. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014.
  41. ^ "CFDA board taps Wang, Von Furstenberg, Spade". Women's Wear Daily. 1 July 1999. p. 11. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  42. ^ "CFDA Announces 2008 CFDA Fashion Awards Nominations". CFDA (Press release). 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  43. ^ a b "Bio page and timeline for Carolina Herrera". Vogue. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  44. ^ "Madrid with Carolina Herrera". Travel+Leisure. October 2005. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012.
  45. ^ "Spanish Institute Gala Announcement". Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
  46. ^ Margulies, Hadas (16 July 2012). "Carolina Herrera Is An Honorary Superstar". Elle. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  47. ^ Feitelberg, Rosemary (7 September 2012). "Style Awards Honor Carolina Herrera, Reed Krakoff". WWD. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  48. ^ Davis, Jim (24 August 2010). "Mercedes-Benz Presents Title Given to Fashion Designer Carolina Herrera". eMercedesBenz.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
  49. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  50. ^ "2005 Summit Highlights". American Academy of Achievement. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  51. ^ Karimzadeh, Marc (7 February 2014). "The Couture Council to Honor Carolina Herrera". Women's Wear Daily. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  52. ^ Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopaedia, Volume 1, pages 325-326
  53. ^ Shapiro, Harriet (3 May 1982). "From Venezuela to Seventh Avenue, Carolina Herrera's Fashions Cast a Long Shadow". People. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011.
  54. ^ "Carolina Herrera Hosts Second Annual Fundraising Event for the FundaHigado America Foundation". World Red Eye. 10 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  55. ^ "Ana Behrens-Pacanins Is Married To Luis Paraud-Carpena, Developer". The New York Times. 14 October 1989. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009.
  56. ^ "Gobierno De Espana, Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado – Order 3742" (PDF). 1 February 1975. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  57. ^ a b "Maria Herrera-Uslar; Society Figure Was 78". The New York Times. 28 December 1992. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  58. ^ Philby, Charlotte (6 March 2010). "My Secret Life: Carolina Herrera, fashion designer, 71". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  59. ^ "Gobierno De Espana, Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado – Order 26340" (PDF). 16 March 1992. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  60. ^ Abramovitch, Ingrid (14 September 2012). "Spanish Influence: Carolina Herrera Baez at Home". ELLE Decor. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  61. ^ "Descubrimos a Pedro de Noronha, el atractivo inversor portugués que ha enamorado a Carolina Herrera". HOLA (in Spanish). 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  62. ^ "LANSING--Gerrit Livingston". The New York Times. 31 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  63. ^ "WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Patricia Herrera, Gerrit Lansing Jr". The New York Times. 24 November 2002. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  64. ^ Chang, Bee-Shyuan (6 May 2011). "What a Carolina Herrera Daughter and Consultant Is Wearing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  65. ^ Keltner de Valle, Jane (22 April 2019). "Designer Patrick McGrath Brings New Life to Patricia Herrera Lansing's New York City Home". Architectural Digest. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
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