CAROLINA Herrera designed SS17 with defiance. Creating clothing for herself, if she was in her youth in 2016-17, i.e. her desired clientele, Herrera still made the majority of pieces entirely accessible in their appeal to all age groups. Down to the simple fact that this collection conveyed timeless allure from start to finish, the empress of uptown NYC chic did not disappoint.
Clothing seen on models painted up like the iconic video vixens from Robert Palmer’s Addicted to Love was dominated by a dramatic assortment of dresses. Shirt dresses, a la Herrera shirt expert, were show stopping in their powerful fusion of off-duty and opera ready. Glossy dresses for the day oozing into cocktail party eve featured monochrome spears of discordant stripes and pinstripes doing wonders for the strong silhouette.
Other self-assured sartorial announcements included floatier skirts held up by synching tops teasing at ample shows of décolletage, a sparky tuxedo dress, a little chinoiserie and some dollops of gingham, nicely formed into an asymmetric off-the-shoulder dress in one instance.
Getting flashy with lamé offerings set against semi-skin-tight dresses that snaked from neck to toe, Herrera also gave some of New York’s entrusted red carpet clothiers, think a little of Lhuillier and Wang, a bit of a run for their money. Indeed, putting the likes in their place in some ways, for her 35th anniversary year Herrera unrelentingly indulged in the clothes she likes designing. We say, good on her.
by Livia Feltham
Images courtesy of Carolina Herrera