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Carolina Herrera
The value of her image
This designer has always had close ties to the world of fashion. From being one of the world's 10 best-dressed women, she moved on to dressing them. Given her standing in the frenzied world of fashion, she is, unquestionably, a source of national pride
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This lady from Caracas is the height of elegance. She has a style all of her own and stresses that success involves hard work, discipline and good luck (Photo: Handout / Carolina Herrera)
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LEOPOLDO FONTANA BRICEÑO
 Her demeanor makes clear that she is a Venezuelan who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, with impeccable manners that have always been her hallmark. Listed as one of the world's 10 best-dressed women, Carolina decided to begin dressing other women. What is interesting is how she went about it! There were never any fashion shows in New York. Designers held private showings of their collections for buyers from the country's best-known stores. On October 26, 1981, Carolina Herrera presented her first collection at the most exclusive establishment in Manhattan: The Metropolitan Club. And not to potential buyers, either, but to top society figures from around the world, all of whom showed up, not just out of friendship, but out of curiosity above all. Those first gowns were like the ones she wore to parties in Caracas, a bit passé but very much her style: gorgeous long gowns, noted for large sleeves that framed the face. The audience was fascinated, more than gowns they were status symbols. The fashion media, especially "the bible," Women's Wear Daily or WWD, was skeptical and the predictions were unanimous: fireworks that would soon burn out. Six months later, Carolina Herrera was back with a runway show. This time in a very democratic setting, the New York Public Library, doing something that had never been done before. The press was astonished. WWD headlined its approval, in strictly New York style language: "That rich bitch does it again!" Recognition for discipline, hard work and tenacity. What Carolina Herrera has done is sell her image. She has three priorities. First of all, her family, her husband Reinaldo, her four daughters, her grandchildren and, last but not least, her dogs, who are always given people names. Second is her work, to which she dedicates eight hours a day, but no more. She plans everything she is going to do on a given day down to the smallest detail; if it isn't finished, the reason is bad planning that is quickly rectified, the next day however. And third is her social life, which is also good publicity because she is one of the most elegant (and photographed) women in New York, and there is never any doubt as to what she is wearing: A Carolina Herrera, of course! Nevertheless, she never talks about her work when out in society. Her legendary discretion -she has never breathed a word about her friendship with Princess Margaret- won over one customer who became her friend and wore her clothes until she died: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who entrusted her with designing the dress her daughter Caroline wore when she wed Edwin Schlossberg in 1986. In a city where the most important thing is how much something costs, Carolina never talks about money. Her employees say that, when a customer asks the price of one of her creations, she blushes and gets somebody else to answer for her. Her image is such that a book was published, filled with pictures from different times and with tributes from her friends, all unanimous in their opinions of her. One sample says it all: Her colleague and friend Bill Blass had a beautiful bust of a Bedouin wearing a turban carved out of different colored marbles. When Carolina admired it, Bill Blass said "If you like it so much, I'll leave it to you in my will." "Oh, no Bill," she replied, "if you have to die I prefer never to have it!" The next day, the bust of the Bedouin was at her house! Translated by Francine Jacome |
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