It is not wise to think of Carolina Herrera as JUST one of the Elder Stateswomen of 7th Ave. She is that, Indubitably so, but she is also not sitting on an Ivory Tower, Imperiously, staring down at all she surveys with a air of Stuck-Up Hauteur and Pretension. She is as thoroughly of her time and, with Equal Ferocity, as her more Downtown Counterpart, DVF. Although Herrera is much more Haute Couture than Von Furstenberg, They are both Women of Flustering Command and can own a room as effortlessly as a Bird Flies. It just seems easier to put Blinders on when it comes to Herrera because her domain is that of Unfailing Richesse and Diane is well... DIANE!
This is not to Compare the two, only to contrast the positions they occupy and the circles that they both traveled in, in their youth and how their paths must have undoubtedly crossed many times, and now, they, being in the age range they are, serve as Bridges and Ambassadors to the Past and to the Future! They are the Crown Regents of the American Fashion Hierarchy and NO ONE Would ever Dare to put that into Question! But it is easier for the Casual observer to see where DVF is more the designer for the Urban Woman and Herrera inhabits a more Mythical Echelon that may be hard to compute for women not in a certain Tax Bracket, especially owing that Much of Herrera's Offerings are often in the Tens of Thousands of Dollars, which makes her clothes something of a Fairy Tale to most.
Yet, that does not mean that Herrera's clothes are not Modern, Even if sometimes they are somewhat Precious, But it's this Preciousness that makes her clothes all the more Wondrous, and Spring 2015 was surely one of her most Extravagant and Special collections ever!
Flowers, For Spring... well we all know the line from "The Devil Wears Prada" but for Spring, What could be more Inspiring THAN Flowers? But, Herrera is Keenly aware that it could easily devolve into a Rote and Typical Fashion Foray. This, However, was not in any way nearly the case Chez Carolina Herrera. In all fact, it was one of the most Astoundingly Breathtaking collection in recent memory, in any city. It had such Craftsmanship and Creativity handled with such balanced measure, it could have qualified with the greatest of ease as an Haute Couture Collection. It was that Impactive and Exquisite!
There was a Japanese strain running through the collection that played out in Liquid Origami style drapes that were more insinuations than direct application of the technique. There was even an Allusion to Kimonos and Samurais with New takes on Lantern and Kimono sleeves and Raised Samurai seaming, but again these were just Vague inferences, but one could visualize the Japanese touches. Otherwise the were Artistic, Georgia O'Keefe Florals that were then visually distorted as to appear warped or manipulated and gave a Arch modernist feel to the flowers.
As usual, Herrera's Strongest cards were played in her Dramatic Evening Gowns, which this season were Splendidly, Over-The-Top Exorbitant in their Majesty! Counterpointed by Super Strong Day wear, The gowns were even more Decadent! More though, on those later, The Day pieces had Spellbinding appeal, like a Radiant Butter Yellow clean front Skirt suit which spoke of Modern Hauteur, or the Malt coloured Cardigan coat and skirt set that caused a Flutter in one's chest of deepest Desire! Another winner, The Cropped White jacket with Folding details paired with a Wheat and White Floral A-Line skirt and the simple appearing Cranberry Silk dress that from the front, looked as easy as a Tee, but had Complicated construction galore from the back!
Evening was full of Surprises and the Richest rewards... A Royal Purple Gazar two-piece gown had the Flair of a Ralph Rucci Infanta Gown of yore and was Stupendously Impressive, or the Black Column with a Slash of Coral at the Bust and Yellow at the waist that opened in back to reveal train of White Silk was Operatic in it's drama while a Complicatedly constructed White Ballgown on Daphne Groeneveld was Extravagant in it's Unadorned Munificence! Though it was the Penultimate gown that stole one's heart away, A Gigantic Ballgown constructed out of tulle with Cutout pieces of thin Foam that had been Hand painted and constructed, Puzzle like, to form a Enormous Floral pattern on the skirt. It was one of those moments that made one Gasp and hold one's breath! It was Dynamism Moving!
This was perhaps the best collection of the Spring New York Season. It was Artistic, It was Heartstopping, It was EXCELLENCE PERSONIFIED! Herrera proved that She is perfectly In Tune, In her own way, with what Modern means in the Fashion Game, This collection was a Beauty from Beginning to End. Herrera IS Fashion Royalty, And she designs clothes for her customer to feel like they are the same, No Doubts here that a woman will look nothing less than Queenly Regal in this Collection!
That's All.
Bye4Now!
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