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Carolina Herrera

“I want women to really look like women from today. It's not from the past and not from the future, because I don't know what happens in the future. It is the women of today (who) I think is a seductive woman.”

With an aristocratic lineage, Carolina Herrera was born to design the elegant, chic, and sophisticated eveningwear for which she is known. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Herrera grew up surrounded by extremely fashionable dressed women wearing only haute couture designs. She credits her grandmother with initially interesting her in fashion.

During the 1970s she spent her time with royals, musicians, and artists such as Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol. The stylish Herrera quickly made a name for herself by consistently landing on the ‘International Best Dressed List’ and in 1980 was entered into their prestigious hall of fame. At the encouragement of friends Count Rudi Crespi and Diana Vreeland, Herrera designed and presented a well received test collection in 1981. Following the success of Carolina’s collection, she relocated her family to New York City and founded the company, ‘Carolina Herrera Ltd’. Herrera’s company grew widely and rapidly, with former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis repeatedly wearing her designs throughout the last twelve years of her life.

In 1987 Herrera expanded her company by starting production on fragrances and creating her infamous bridal line. Almost a decade later, Herrera began a lifelong collaboration with her daughter, Carolina, who has been her muse for numerous products. The two women have collaborated on several fragrances and also founded the lifestyle brand ‘CH Carolina Herrera’. ‘CH Carolina Herrera’ produces a line of womenswear, menswear, children’s wear, and footwear.

In the fall of 2000, Herrera opened her first flagship store on Madison Ave in New York City. She followed this New York opening by gracing Los Angeles, California, and Dallas, Texas, with her elegant and luxurious stores. To date Herrera’s designs can be found in high end stores and boutiques across the globe. Herrera’s label that also includes breath-taking bridal wear, has branched out to produce a fabulous product line of luxury handbags and eyewear. Carolina Herrera was recognized with the CFDA’s 2004 Womenswear Designer of the Year and was also the recipient of the CFDA’s 2008 Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.

Life Facts:
Carolina Herrera was born Maria Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Nino and has the title, Marchioness of Torre Casa. She comes from a long line of Venezuelan land owners and statesmen. Coinciding with the launch of ‘CH Carolina Herrera’ was the opening of its stores in Nevada, California, Florida, New York, Texas, Dubai, Europe, and Latin America. Carolina Herrera is a Goodwill Ambassador for the ‘Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition’ (IIMSAM) and its affirmative action programs, The Right to Food Campaign Initiative Against Malnutrition and Fashion United Against Malnutrition.

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