Embrace A Return To Glamour With Carolina Herrera

Glitz and glamour was the order of the day at Carolina Herrera’s spring/summer 2022 runway show. With events, weddings, and special occasions back on the agenda, creative director Wes Gordon appeared to be in his element as he conjured up a high-octane collection that didn’t scrimp on pomp and panache.

The opening look was a bold, black-and-white striped mini dress that fanned into a swishy A-line skirt. An extravagant, satin cocktail number, it set the tone for a succession of delightful designs that were spirited, sophisticated, and – despite marking the brand’s 40th year in business – brimming with youthful energy. It’s no surprise, then, that this particular dress was also spotted on tennis star Leylah Fernandez at the Met Gala 2021, following a similar set of vintage Carolina Herrera designs worn by tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams for a Vogue shoot in 1998. “Black and white – in graphic vertical stripes or in cascading layers of tulle – make for a thrilling entrance for the bold, confident Herrera woman,” the collection notes stated, and Fernandez did indeed look utterly divine, with embellished heels and an elegant evening clutch finishing the chic aesthetic perfectly.

A fitted midi dress in bubblegum-pink bouclé proved another standout look. Crafted with the brand’s signature dramatic puffed sleeves – which in this instance are boned to hold their spectacular shape – it is more than red-carpet worthy. “Dramatic sleeves continue to be a statement element of the house, evolving to delicate puffs at the shoulder or dramatic shapes framing the face,” continued the collection notes. On the catwalk, it was styled with statement earrings and bold, polka-dot-print heels and a matching clutch, but party flats and pared-back accessories will allow it to confidently take center stage.

Perhaps feeling reflective while designing an anniversary collection, Gordon also looked to the decade in which the brand’s namesake designer first established it. Cue ’80s-style silhouettes reinterpreted through a modern lens – a white jumpsuit with softly puffed sleeves and a defined waist being just one of the house’s nod to the decade of excess. To enhance its hourglass shape, style with the matching wide-waist belt and allow its polished gold-ring fastening to add a glamorous finishing touch.

Carolina Herrera herself was famous for creating magnificent gowns adored by global tastemakers, including Jackie O and Michelle Obama. Today, alongside stylish sports stars, actors Yara Shahidi and Florence Pugh have been drawn to Gordon’s bold and beautiful designs, upholding the label’s reputation for attracting the most discerning of dressers. So, whichever of the brand’s latest pieces you choose, you’re sure to make a chic impression, whatever the occasion.