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Fashion / Style

Carolina Herrera’s Young Star Dazzles at Fashion Week — and Justin Bieber’s Fiancee is Wowed: Dolly Parton, Martha Stewart, the Bush Daughters and the New Prince of Prints Collide

BY // 09.28.18

NEW YORK — There is a changing of the guard at Carolina Herrera, so the curiosity factor over the debut of the luxe label’s new creative director Wes Gordon was off the charts at New York Fashion Week. Amid an A-list crowd that included Herrera, who had passed the reins to Gordon after making her final runway bow in February, the spring/summer ’19 collection was unveiled amid a room full of European and American 18th and 19th century paintings at the New-York Historical Society.

The Atmosphere

A range of Dolly Parton tunes, including “Jolene” and “Nine to Five,” wafted from the speakers as the crowd entered the sedate gallery, leading one to wonder how far Gordon might stray from the Herrera legacy of old world glamour for women of means. But once the runway show started, with pounding lounge music replacing Parton tunes, the answer seemed clear: Gordon remains committed to Herrera’s legacy while injecting a fresh new vibe into the venerable brand.

Runway Looks

Gordon, an Atlanta native who worked with Herrera for a year and a half before assuming the top design job at the company, said he looked at exuberant photographs of her just before she launched her brand in the late ’70s as inspiration for the sunny collection. That kicky attitude is reflected in colorful Op Art floral dresses, a lemon yellow coat studded with beaded daises, crocheted lace maxi dresses, and billowing evening gowns in bright floral designs or contrasting black-and-white polka dots.

In fact, Gordon showed so many bright patterns that he could easily be dubbed the “Prince of Prints.”

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There are touches of classic Herrera in tailored jackets, flowing ball skirts, and her trademark white blouses, although they now are likely to have pointed collars and bell sleeves or are embellished with crystals or lace.

But Gordon, who is 31 but looks so young that he’s likely still carded at a bar, is definitely more daring, showing mini-skirts, midriff tops, skirts with thigh high slits, and a crocheted orange onesie with matching cardigan unlike anything in a previous Herrera collection. It’s all presented in an effortless way, with models wearing flat sandals or colorful embroidered cowboy boots.

Gordon has designs on Houston, where he will present the Carolina Herrera collection next spring at the Houston Chronicle Neiman Marcus Best Dressed Luncheon benefitting the March of Dimes. Five years ago, Gordon was the featured attraction at Fashion Houston, where he showed a collection under his namesake label.

When he joined Herrera, he discontinued his own collection, which had been a favorite of such celebs as Michelle Obama and Lena Dunham.

Celebs in the Crowd

After the show ended, Gordon hugged Herrera and whispered, “I want your critique later.” When asked for a comment about Gordon’s debut, the 79-year-old designer said,  “I loved it. And I liked being a guest and spectator.”

Before the show, Jenna Bush Hager remarked on how she loved the Dolly Parton music as she and sister Barbara gamely posed for a selfie with Martha Stewart, who did the honors with her cellphone. “Everyone wants a selfie with Martha,” Jenna said.

She also thanked a reporter for asking about her grandfather, former president George H.W. Bush. “He’s doing well,” she said. “He’s lonely; he’s misses our grandmother. But he’s excited to be surrounded by family right now.”

Hailey Baldwin, wearing a loose-fitting bright pink Carolina Herrera jacket and trousers, flashed her massive engagement ring from fiance Justin Bieber, to onlookers and friends, including Sailor Brinkley Cook, the daughter of iconic model Christie Brinkley. Baldwin said she had cut back on modeling opportunities during fashion week events to be with Bieber.

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Part of the Special Series:

PaperCity - On the Runway Spring 2019

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