Wes Gordon: A Life In Color

Elegant and poised, but full of wit and whimsy, Gordon’s designs, says the model and activist, reflect who he truly is as a person. “Wes brings so much warmth, humor and generosity into everything he does – and that spirit is felt not only in the clothes, but also in the experience of knowing him,” says Kloss, who, struggling with her train once inside the Met event, soon found Gordon on his knees with a pair of scissors he had procured off a waiter, carefully cutting it off. “I feel very fortunate to get to work with him – and even more so, to call him a dear friend.”

The world has felt a little heavy and gray of late. Is Gordon on a mission, I wonder, to inject some color into people’s lives? “Absolutely. I think a huge part of our success lately has been down to women just wanting to embrace beautiful things – pretty, happy, colorful, optimistic clothes. There’s so much in the world that is beyond our ability to fix,” he continues. “But how we dress and how we put ourselves out into the world are things we can control.”

In his job interview with Herrera in 2017, they bonded over this shared belief that the way you choose to live your life informs who you are as a designer, discussing their favorite restaurants, music and artists as much as they did business plans. “So much of who you are is about how you live,” he says. “From the book you’re reading to how you decorate your house to your favorite films – these are all a part of the creative language that forms our souls and our work.”

Three women who also lived by this mantra – the famous gardeners Bunny Mellon, Miranda Brooks and Grace Fuller – inspired the brand’s pre-fall 2026 collection. Horticultural references run throughout: gorgeous prints echoing 19th-century hand-painted hydrangeas, draped gowns with structural rosettes and plenty of chiffon, organza and lace. While the odd canvas jacket and floral-embroidered pair of pants might nod to a day weeding roses, these are unmistakably clothes for a woman who knows her Choos from her Caovillas and probably gets a regular blow-dry. “Our Carolina Herrera customers are largely busy, social women who resonate with a traditional, feminine way of dressing that centers around sophistication and sexiness – something we can always bet on with the Carolina collections,” says NET-A-PORTER buying manager Rachel Nimmo.

As part of the pre-fall drop, Carolina Herrera has launched an exclusive polka-dot capsule on NET-A-PORTER this month, which feels perfect for summer event dressing. “The polka dot is one of our most iconic brand codes, so we thought that was a great way to celebrate all things Herrera,” says Gordon, who plans to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the house with a runway show “and a big party” in New York in September.

The event is sure to see familiar A-list friends of the brand on the front row – as well as his husband, glassware company owner Paul Arnhold, and their son and daughter (five and three). For Gordon, having children has changed his approach to life, and therefore to the way he designs. “My priorities have completely shifted,” he smiles. “It has brought limitless joy and I laugh more than ever.” He is, he says, obsessed with being a dad. “And I believe that shows in my work. If you’re a happy person, you make happy clothes – and I’ve never been happier.”