The Couture Council of The Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) announced earlier this month that Carolina Herrera will receive the 2014 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.
In her Manhattan design studio.
This should really come as no surprise—Carolina Herrera has been a fashion powerhouse since the 1980s. When her first collection debuted in Manhattan, Herrera was already famous on the International Best-Dressed List and had been dubbed “la bombe” by Vogue’s Diana Vreeland.
The designer in 1973.
The Venezuelan beauty soon became known for her ladylike designs, which have garnered such awards as the Pratt Institute award in 1990, the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime-Achievement Award in 2008, and a gold medal for achievement in fine arts from the king and queen of Spain.
A look inside the showroom.
One of the designer’s big breaks came when she dressed Caroline Kennedy (daughter of Jackie O and JFK) for her wedding in 1996. (Above).
Since the 90s, Herrera has dressed countless celebrities, from fellow Latina bombshell Sofia Vergara to pop songbird Taylor Swift.
I love Lucy (Liu)
One of my personal Herrera favorites.
Even People’s Most Beautiful Person 2014, aka Lupita Nyong’o, wears Carolina Herrera.
Always on top of the trends, First Lady Michelle Obama wore Herrera to the White House state dinner.
If you need some inspiration for spring, keep in mind this Herrera nugget of wisdom: “My rule, whether I’m dressed in something that’s ‘high’ or ‘low’ is to wear it like it cost a million dollars.” Here are looks from the designer’s past spring collections to help you out.
After so much cold and snow, it’s definitely time to pull out your happy spring pieces. Take a cue from the Spring 2006 collection and go pretty in pink.
Who said Burberry has a monopoly on trench coats? To stay dry during all of those spring showers, find a trench, like this Spring 2007 one, that makes as big of a statement as anything you could put on underneath.
Something quirky on your outfit, like this botanist print on a Spring 2011 dress, will make you, and others, smile.
Spring 2013, the too-cool-for-schoolgirl. The simplified colors in this outfit lend the jewels extra punch. Try matching jewelry for a statement making look.
You only need one word to describe this Spring 2014 dress: white-hot. The lesson? Wear lots of white, with accents of unexpected colors like brown.
For more accessible inspiration boards, check out Carolina Herrera’s Pinterest account, which has boards for archived shows and behind the scenes pics.
Follow her on instagram (@houseofherrera) for access to insider moments like preparation for the April bridal show.
Herrera says that, “I have a responsibility to the woman of today—to make her feel confident, modern, and above all else beautiful.” From the looks of it, I’d say she’s achieved her goal.