Carolina Herrera is one of the most prolific eveningwear designers in American fashion. Born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño in Caracas, Venezuela, Herrera enjoyed a world of glamour and style from her youth. Growing up, her socialite grandmother would take her to fashion shows and buy her outfits from European designers, like Lanvin and Dior.
Before she dived into the world of fashion designer, Herrera worked as a publicist for Emilio Pucci, who was a close family friend. In 1980, Herrera moved to New York City, where she became known for her style. In 1972, she made the International Best Dressed List and was elected to its Hall of Fame in 1980.
In 1981, at the behest of her friend, Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, Herrera launched a clothing line that was met with acclaim from its first runway show. Herrera’s designs have become a staple among the socialite set, and she’s dressed multiple first ladies, including Laura Bush, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. WWD takes a closer look at the designer’s personal style through the years.
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Carolina Herrera, 1975
Image Credit: Nick Machalaba Carolina Herrera attends the Costume Institute’s annual gala to preview the exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1975.
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Carolina Herrera, 1983
Image Credit: Tony Palmieri Carolina Herrera wearing her designs and friend attend the Costume Institute annual gala with a retrospective of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Dec. 6, 1983, in New York.
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Carolina Herrera, 1976
Image Credit: Tony Palmieri Carolina Herrera at Arianna Huffington’s wedding in 1986.
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Carolina Herrera, 1988
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Carolina Herrera during Sandy Gallin’s birthday party on May 26, 1988, at Canal Bar in New York.
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Carolina Herrera, 1990
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Carolina Herrera during Fashion Institute of Technology Dinner Gala Honoring Sak’s 5th Avenue on June 14, 1990, in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 1991
Image Credit: WireImage Carolina Herrera on April 20, 1991, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 1992
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Carolina Herrera during 38th Annual Winter Antiques Show at 7th Regiment Armory in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 1992
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Carolina Herrera during “Valentino : Thirty Years of Magic” Gala Retrospective at 67th Street Armory in September 1992 in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 1998
Image Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Carolina Herrera during Emporio Armani’s store opening in 1998 at Emporio Armani in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 2000
Image Credit: Getty Images Carolina Herrera attends the Kids For Kids AIDS Benefit on April 25, 1999, in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 2001
Image Credit: John Aquino Designer Carolina Herrera on the runway at her fall 2001 show in New York.
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Carolina Herrera, 2001
Image Credit: George Chinsee Designer Carolina Herrera on the runway at her spring 2001 show in New York.
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Carolina Herrera, 2003
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Carolina Herrera arrives at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum’s Fourth Annual National Design Awards Gala in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 2004
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Designer Carolina Herrera attends the ‘Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century’ Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum.
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Carolina Herrera, 2005
Image Credit: John Calabrese Carolina Herrera attends the 33rd annual Fragrance Foundation Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom.
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Carolina Herrera, 2005
Image Credit: Keith Smith Carolina Herrera attends the 21st annual International Center of Photography Infinity Awards at Skylight Studios.
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Carolina Herrera, 2005
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Designer Carolina Herrera attends Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s 2005 “Aces Are Wild” benefit at Skylight Studios.
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Carolina Herrera, 2005
Image Credit: Robert Mitra Designer Carolina Herrera at her new Madison Avenue bridal salon in 2005.
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Carolina Herrera, 2006
Image Credit: Keith Smith Carolina Herrera attends Vanity Fair’s 5th annual Tribeca Film Festival party at the New York State Supreme Courthouse.
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Carolina Herrera, 2006
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Carolina Herrera attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute gala in 2006.
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Carolina Herrera, 2007
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Designer Carolina Herrera attends the El Museo Gala at Cipriani’s Restaurant in 2007.
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Carolina Herrera, 2007
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Designer Carolina Herrera attends the 24th Annual Fashion Group International Awards at Cipriani’s in New York.
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Carolina Herrera, 2007
Image Credit: Kristen Somody Whalen Fashion designer Carolina Herrera attends the Apollo Circle Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 2007. Herrera co-sponsored the evening.
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Carolina Herrera, 2007
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Fashion designer Carolina Herrera attends the 2007 7th on Sale party and awards ceremony at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. .
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Carolina Herrera, 2008
Image Credit: Pasha Antonov Fashion designer Carolina Herrera at her CH Carolina store in Manhasset, New York in 2008.
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Carolina Herrera, 2008
Image Credit: Kristen Somody Whalen Fashion designer Carolina Herrera arrives at the 2008 Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards at the New York Public Library.
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Carolina Herrera, 2009
Image Credit: Tyler Boye Carolina Herrera attends Vanity Fair’s 15th annual Oscars party at Sunset Tower Hotel.
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Carolina Herrera, 2009
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Designer Carolina Herrera attends the Fashion Institute of Technology’s educational development fund benefit at Cipriani in New York City in 2009.
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Carolina Herrera, 2009
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Carolina Herrera attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2009 Costume Institute gala. Herrera wears Carolina Herrera.
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Carolina Herrera, 2010
Image Credit: Donato Sardella Carolina Herrera attends Vanity Fair’s 16th annual Oscars party at the Sunset Tower Hotel.
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Carolina Herrera, 2010
Image Credit: Kristen Somody Whalen Designer Carolina Herrera attends the 2010 Apollo Circle benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Carolina Herrera, 2011
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Carolina Herrera attends ABT’s spring 2011 gala.
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Carolina Herrera, 2012
Image Credit: Tyler Boye Carolina Herrera attends Vanity Fair’s 18th annual Oscars party at the Sunset Tower Hotel.
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Carolina Herrera, 2013
Image Credit: Steve Eichner Carolina Herrera at the MCNY winter ball in 2013.
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Carolina Herrera, 2014
Image Credit: Getty Images for Vanity Fair Designer Carolina Herrera attends the 2014 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.
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Carolina Herrera, 2016
Image Credit: FilmMagic Designer Carolina Herrera attends Macy’s Presents Fashion’s front row during spring 2016 New York Fashion Week on Sept. 7, 2016, in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 2017
Image Credit: Getty Images Designer Carolina Herrera poses backstage for the Carolina Herrera collection during, New York Fashion Week: The Shows on Feb. 13, 2017, in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 2019
Image Credit: WireImage Carolina Herrera attends the 2019 VAEA Gala And Award Ceremony Honoring Margot Benacerraf & Julian Schnabel at David Rubenstein Atrium on Nov. 19, 2019, in New York City.
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Carolina Herrera, 2022
Image Credit: Getty Images Designer Carolina Herrera attends the MAPFRE Awards press conference at the Casino de Madrid on Oct. 6, 2022, in Madrid.
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Carolina Herrera, 2023
Image Credit: Getty Images for The Wayuu Taya Carolina Herrera speaks during the Wayuu Taya Foundation 20th Anniversary Gala at Urban Zen Center At Stephan Weiss Studio on Oct. 30 in New York City.