Carolina Herrera's Tailored Chic
By Karin Nelson
Photos by: Gruber-FWD
New York, Sep 10, 2001/FWD/ --- For spring 2002, Carolina Herrera once again gave her front row ladies --
which this season oddly included Serena Williams nestled between the usual suspects like Nina Griscom and
Ivana Trump -- more impeccably tailored, strong yet soft looks, to carry them from their Cipriani luncheons
to metropolitan soirees.
"It's fresh and feminine, but meant for a sophisticated woman - one who knows how to dress her age,"
explained a regal Herrera perched atop a stool backstage before her Bryant Park show Monday.
Hair-wise, Serge Normant stuck with naturally simple looks in order to keep the focus on Carolina's
clothing. "This is not a hair show," he shrugged. "To create a strong or even a unified look on the girls
just didn't seem appropriate."
As for beauty, makeup artist Linda Cantello created sexy, sun-kissed faces with her own caramel-colored
cream blush available in November. Glossy highlight creams in the same hue were used on the eyes. "The
look is very moist, very shiny. Carolina wanted 'sexy' and in my opinion, matte just isn't sexy and
summery enough."
And taking nude to the utmost extreme, lips were left completely bare. "I'm not even using gloss," she claimed.
It was a sexy and simple canvas meant to allow the collection to stand out. Of key importance was the
white shirt - a staple in Herrera's own wardrobe - which she presented in various manners from poetically
romantic chiffon blouses complete with ruffles and flowing pleated sleeves to crisp cotton poplin button-downs
tightly tucked in.
"I love white. In summer and winter. I think a woman always looks well in a white shirt," explained Herrera,
dressed in a crisp white shirt and fitted black slacks.
Silk shantung pants in stone greys and coffee browns, low-slung and boot-cut -- which no doubt will appease
the younger Herrera-wearing set -- were paired with unlooped leather belts, as were the mini skirts, cut
asymmetrically.
And all need for jewelry was fulfilled by stunning sequin embroidery on both slacks and skirts. For evening,
silk crepe floor-length gowns breezed by, trailed by long pleats. And a poppy-colored, Academy Award-winning
cap-sleeved gown strikingly worn by model Mini Anden was met by a roomful of applause.
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