Who's Carolina Herrera? All about the woman behind the brand

From London to Singapore, New York and Sydney, Carolina Herrera is an icon of luxury goods, haute couture, and perfume. The designer has lived a glorious life among artists, monarchs and movie stars. Here's her story in pictures.

The designer was born in the city of Caracas, Venezuela, in 1939. Her parents were the Governor of Caracas and a known writer. Carolina's full maiden name is María Carolina Josefina Pacanins Niño.

Carolina's family was wealthy, and as a little girl she was used to dressing in high fashion. Her wardrobe was full of Lanvin and Dior clothes.

Her grandmother introduced her to the world of fashion from her childhood. She attended Balenciaga fashion shows with her and even got to know the designer himself. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

The designer first married Guillermo Behrens Tello in 1957. They divorced in 1964. From this first marriage, two daughters were born: Ana Luisa and Mercedes.

Her second marriage was with the Venezuelan Reinaldo Herrera Guevara in 1969. He was the editor of Vanity Fair magazine and the fifth Marquis of Torre Casa.

Hence the name of this super designer: Carolina Herrera. She got it by taking her husband's surname as the Marquise consort of Torre Casa.

As a young woman, Carolina regularly attended the famous New York nightclub Studio 54. There she met personalities such as David Bowie, Andy Warhol, and Mick and Bianca Jagger.

One of the great moments in the beginnings of Carolina Herrera was the moment she got some of her designs in the window of Martha's. This was the most elegant boutique on New York's Park Avenue.

New York is important for the designer. She said in an interview that working in fashion was "something I had inside, like a larvae, asleep, and here in New York, they opened the doors for me to develop it. Americans are very generous people. If you have talent, they open doors for you."

Her personal style, often with a white blouse and basic shapes and colours, has received much praise. In 1972, Carolina Herrera first appeared on the international list of the best-dressed women of all time.

Carolina Herrera has been a synonym for luxury and quality since the 1970s. She has dressed the most famous and powerful women in the world.

In 1980, Carolina Herrera presented her first fashion collection. The famous Somalian-American model Iman walked the runway for the occasion. Soon enough, orders from the biggest stars arrived.

Herrera's success was so explosive that by 1982 she was dressing Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. She's standing next to her husband, the Prince of Yugoslavia on this photo. Carolina Herrera also dressed Queen Elizabeth, Nancy Reagan, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

It wasn't just aristocrats wearing the Venezuelan belle's fashion. Actresses and celebrities like Ivana Trump, Penelope Cruz (photo), Kathleen Turner, Renée Zellweger, Amy Adams, and Oprah Winfrey have also worn her designs.

A fairly recent example is Glenn Close at the 2019 Oscars. She joins Cynthia Nixon, Katie Holmes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Angelina Jolie and others in wearing Carolina Herrera.

Then there's Nicole Kidman, Meghan Markle, Blake Lively, Tina Fey, Julie Bowen... The list goes on.

Carolina Herrera has also had a line of bridal dresses since the late 1980s. Celebrities like the Australian model Narelle Payne have tried them on.

In her second marriage, Carolina Herrera had two more daughters: Patricia Cristina (on this photo) and Carolina Adriana.

Carolina Adriana has collaborated in her mother's designs and plays an important part in the business. "My daughter perfectly represents the woman of my lines," Herrera said about her. "Young, elegant, with her own style and incredible personality."

Carolina Herrera participates in a number of philanthropic causes. She joined the fight against breast cancer and received the Mother of the Year award from the American Cancer Society in 2006.

In 2007, the designer launched her perfume CH, and in 2008 she introduced her 'pret-a-porter' (ready-to-wear) line, better known as 'CH Carolina Herrera.'

By 2014, there were more than 1000 Carolina Herrera and 'CH Carolina Herrera' boutiques around the world. Her lines were sold in 280 stores in 104 countries.

In 2016, Herrera had a difficult time when she entered into a legal dispute with Oscar de la Renta's company. Both houses had signed the same young designer, Laura Kim, without regard for a current non-competition clause.

That same year, Herrera received bad reviews for the collection created by her right-hand designer Hervé Pierre.

There was also good news for the fashion icon. In 2017, Mercedes Benz recognized her for her "unique style, quality of materials and innovative design."

In 2018, the famous designer said goodbye to fashion. She left the position of creative director to become an ambassador of the label she founded in the 80s.

The successor for the position of creative director was designer Wes Gordon. The brand Carolina Herrera continues to be at the top of the fashion world.

(Images: Gtres, Clasos and Carolina Herrera Web)