As you know I have had the incredible pleasure of working with many, many designers and lifestyle personalities over my many years at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago. Among my favorites was (and is!) Carolina Herrera. Not only an extremely talented designer but probably, even more importantly, one off the nicest people you can meet in or out of the world of fashion! I had the privilege of working with her on several occasions over the 36 years of her career (the House of Herrera celebrated their 35th Anniversary in 2016). The photos above were a part of my desinger wall in my office they are now housed in the Nena Ivon Collection in the Archives and Special Collections at Columbia College Chicago. Two weren’t glazed so you see a vintage look to them which I find charming. I have never seen a bad photo of Carolina. She would sign a new one each time she visited. She is a photographers dream and has been shot by the best including our own genius Victor Skrebneski, the remarkable Robert Mapplethorpe and Andy Warhol to name a few. Every artist has used her as their muse and one of my personal favorites is David Downton’s piece he did for her SCAD exhibition. I really want a portrait by him…follow his Instagram posts… I would show them to you but I would probably be sued for copyright violations so please go online and enjoy them for yourself.
Had to do this…the truly exquisite Carolina Herrera in front of the iconic Warhol piece.
Carolina was “discovered” by Diana Vreeland who admired her personal style (Carolina was on the Best Dressed List long before she started her business and she and her husband, Reinaldo, were/are in the heart of the International social scene) and encouraged her to start designing, again Diana was correct with her discriminating eye and we all have been able to enjoy and wear the glamour and excitement of Carolina Herrera since 1981.
Diana Vreeland and Carolina in the top photo and two pieces from her first collection…I was there and it was amazingly beautiful. Her evening gowns were and are the elegant way to look at any formal occasion and her day pieces are timeless as well.
Two Monographs, you know me and books especially on fashion….the top title published in 2016 to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Carolina Herrera.
At her perfume launch
I know I have posted this photo before but why not again….four of our visiting designers at the Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago Place opening party September 1990. Left to right, Adolfo, Carolina, Pauline Trigère and Bob Mackie. I’m on the left and Beverly Blettner, the event chair, is pictured on the right. I have another version of this photo (which I can’t locate, sorry) that has Adolfo and Carolina laughing…the photographer had asked if they were married, don’t know why the question was asked but it broke up all the designers!
At the Fashion Group International Chicago www.chicago.fgi.org Gala when Carolina was presented with their Night of Stars Designer of the Year Award 2004. It was at the Ritz Carlton Chicago. At that event, she asked me how long have we worked together, both our responses were, “since the beginning”! Her latest award from all her Chicago admirers was this Spring when she received the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum’s www.chicagohistory.org Designer of Excellence Award. I must add we have lovely representation of the House of Herrera in the Costume Collection. The above three photos are from the Nena Ivon Collection in the College Archives and Special Collections at Columbia College Chicago wwwdigitalcommons@colum.edu
I featured a couple of pieces from the Carolina Herrera Spring 2018 Collection in my posts on New York Fashion Week….let’s look at a couple more that were my favorites. The Collection was shown in the Museum of Modern Art’s Garden a first for MOMA and for Herrera and it won’t be the last they plan on showing there for the next few seasons, the Collections have been shown at The Frick Museum the past few seasons.
And here is your personal invitation to see the Resort and Spring 2018 Collections…I would suggest you take advantage of this opportunity to see these treasures in person and find something special to add to your wardrobe.
Carolina today in her signature white shirt, let’s look forward to many more years with this creator’s truly glorious garments!
In closing I want to direct you to the Carolina Herrera website, www.carolinaherrera.com it is extraordinary and you will learn much more about this unique talent that I have had the great privileged to have had in my fashion life!
ALL PHOTOS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED ARE FROM PINTEREST PHOTO CREDIT UNKNOWN
TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS, AS ALWAYS ALL THOUGHTS ARE MINE AND I AM NOT COMPENSATED BY THE BRANDS I AM CURRENTLY DISCUSSING.
IN YESTERDAY’S HALLOWEEN POST STEPHANIE LAKE’S WEBSITE WAS NOT CLEAR THE CORRECT INFORMATION IS www.stephanielakedesign.com MY APOLOGIES TO STEPHANIE!!
The finale to end all finales…..brilliant!
I have always been a huge fan of Comme Des Garçons and the Spring 2018 Collection, shown in the Russian Embassy in Paris, does not disappoint. Filled with the creative imagination of Rei Kawakubo the prints take one’s breath away. I have been talking about shoes throughout all the Collections, again, they are an important element in this collection. Perhaps something in a new hairdo….yes, I know, outrageous, but they got us talking! Thought-provoking as always yet elements that break down to be visionary and in the end, wearable! See below for a couple more of the looks. No one combines print like CDG!
Denim a la Lagerfeld
Black shiny trench
Pale yellow
Petal pink.
Chanel finale on the raised wooden bridge.
I’m mad for the hair and other accessories and note the beautiful combination of prints, texture, and subtlety of color, divine.
How appropriate that Off-White‘s Founder and Creative Director, Virgil Abloh, will be making a special personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago on Thursday, October 5th with his Fall 2017 Men’s and Women’s Collections. He has just shown his Spring 2018 Collection, an ode to Princess Diana, in Paris. Be among the first to shop the exclusive capsule collection, “SHOCK WAVES” and experience “LAST DANCE” the new visual installation designed by Virgil Abloh himself. This is the first-ever PA with Virgil Abloh among Saks Fifth Avenue’s fleet of locations. The event will be from 6 to 7 and is open to the public!!!! WOW!! Be sure this is on your calendar for a special go-to event.
Continuing a theme we are seeing. particularly in the Paris shows, the emphasis on the shoulder. And, of course, black and white.
More bold shoulder and denim, of course.
One of the colors for Spring 2018, bold pink paired with silvery tulle.
The glamour of black with two of the hot accessories we are seeing in all collections, gloves and interesting shoes….
Obviously black and white but more importantly another trend the romantic “prom dress”.
The Finale
Virgil Abloh with Naomi Campbell who ended the show.
A fantastically creative collection with so much to inspire us.
Prints…always!
Kimono-inspired denim, love this!
Kenzo Takada in his Paris apartment T Magazine photo by Bea De Giacomo
Balmain Spring 2018 by Olivier Rousteing, the stage for the show at the baroque Opera Garnier.
We have come to our final destination for our Spring 2018 Fashion Weeks….Paris and so far it hasn’t disappointed! Lots of trends, lots of new venues and designers with established Houses. Let’s take a look at several of the Brands I always follow, no new ones here but the current designers are looking to the originators for their inspiration…
The catwalk and seating, amazing!
One of the trends that has been in almost all collections from New York to Paris, the broad shoulder influenced by the 1980’s and to think Dynasty is being given a new life in a new TV series….interesting. This looks very YSL with the twist of the feather boot. I quite like them.
Two more looks straight out of the Saint Laurent archives, the deep plunge neckline and tight accented waist and the bold pink “ruffle” bodice with black…note the shoe and the boot, as I have mentioned in the last 6 posts, footwear is what is happening, without question…lots and lots of new looks to add to our wardrobes.
The Saint Laurent version of the LBD!
Stripes, denim, messages on tees. First Exit!
Denim with wool fringe, love this look, fresh, on trend.
Black and white leather with color accents with a tulle skirt, of course, to be worn with a lining but I really like the juxtaposition of hard chic with the tulle skirt.
The 2018 version of the Bar jacket topping another tulle skirt with Niki’s art applique.
One of the colors for Spring 2018, red here in leather and knits, two more of the trends we have seen in all the markets.
Chrome and stripes.
Pink spangles.
This, to me, is very Christian Dior, classic yet modern, a forever dress and making it even more “now” worn with flats!
Lanvin show at the Grand Palais the first collection by Artistic Director Olivier Lapidus who has plans to turn the oldest continuing House into “a French Michael Kors”. The House has been in decline since the departure of the talented Elber Albaz.
One of the colors of the Spring 2018 season.
And red….again note the footwear.
Stripes one of my major trends for Spring 2018 along with chrome yellow.
The LBD Dries style.
Milan proved to be a mix of straightforward elegance and dramatic presentations such as the Fellini inspired spectacular of Antonio Marras, shown above!
Stripes, shine, pink, orange and black and white.
Stripes, knit…be sure to notice the handbags and shoes…more socks!
Denim, leather, pattern.
Leather bomber jacket, layers.
The power suit in pink….a color seen in all collections so far.
The black dress, sexy, a must have, again seen in all collections….a major classic looking new, note the colored textured leg.
Stage
Pink tutu with black leather very Katy Perry
Floral finale
Stripes, leather and I know you all hate the socks with sandals, but they are most certainly a trend!
Love the silk trench over the embroidered gown.
The scale of the finale.
Stripes and pink.
Looks more like fall to me but animal print always a good thing no matter the season!
Look familiar…very Versace but Fendi…a trend in the making!!!??? Let’s watch it!
Petal pink
Denim and Versace signature prints with a touch of lace…love these!
House of Cards set, a show produced for and attended by Millenials…interesting concept, and we know all the Millenials like to wear tiaras or flowers in their hair…they have come to the right place!
Print mix always a D&G signature…
Stripes…yes…
Blush pink, okay….
Black check….
Gareth Pugh, the avant-garde designer joined forces with photographer, Nick Knight for a 16-minute film which features these out of the future (is the future now!!!???) metallic garments…meant to be worn, I’ll leave that to you.
Hussein Chalayan, to my mind’s eye, is one of the most imaginative innovators out there, he never disappoints with his creativity. Alongside very wearable pieces, he showed a group of gowns with headpieces of rectangular frames with Swarovski crystals, while the flowing gowns were almost Grecian in feeling, complete with rough sandals.
Another futuristic piece from Chalayan.
The opening piece in the Chalayan presentation, some of the models wore headscarves and sunglasses over their faces, the designer said this was “a nod to chic but peculiar mood”.
Christopher Kane, bold splashy print, it does seem that London is all about the shoes….
Black shine with very feminine touches of white lace…hard chic made romantic.
Add to our floral trend mood board.
Refreshing white with two accessories to watch…long gloves and fascinating, to say the least, shoes!
As I have mentioned in past posts, designers have chosen to show their collections in cities other than their own….who could be more American than Tommy Hilfiger and here he presents his totally American collection to close out London Fashion Week!
A close-up of hair and make-up as well as the detail on the jacket.
Boho-inspired floral float with tights and shoe booties….interesting for a Spring collection.
Another favorite and one I reviewed in nenasnotes….Oscar de la Renta plays a starring role.
I enjoyed both of these about Mlle. Chanel.
Another take on Mademoiselle.
Both about stores…. James Patterson has also done a book called The Store which was published in August….haven’t read it as yet….comments if you have!
Both new on my TBR list reviews forthcoming.
One I can’t wait to read, to be published October 24th, the fictionalized story of the Sutherland sisters who became the incredible designer, Lucile, Lady Duff Gordon, and the infamous author, Elinor Glyn. I will, most certainly, do a review on it as soon as it is published!
Looks like Kaia Gerber crossed the Pond as well…
Another well-established name is Giorgio Armani who showed his Emporio Armani collection in London…it is interesting to see which International fashion stars are showing in cities and countries other than their home base. American brands Rodarte, Monique Lhuillier, and Proenza Schouler showed Spring 2018 just before the Paris Couture Collection in July.
