5 June 2023 |
The weather didn’t cooperate but that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm.
What is it with rain and destination fashion shows lately? First Versace had to move their Los Angeles event a day early, in an effort to avoid the forecasted ominous weather. Then Louis Vuitton had to pivot for their resort presentation on Isola Bella, filming the models outdoors but staging their catwalk inside for the sake of keeping guests dry. And now Carolina Herrera’s jaunt to Rio de Janeiro, the brand’s first destination event, suffered the same fate as the skies opened shortly before showtime. But the show must go on and it did beautifully.
As Wes Gordon, creative director of Carolina Herrera, noted on his Instagram, the rain began 20 minutes before the first model was set to walk and it only proceeded to get harder over the next 90 minutes. Guests were shuffled to the after party location, a greenhouse, as the band played and drinks were poured. For a brief moment Gordon considered calling it a night but the models, all of whom are Brazilian, rallied as the backstage filled with clapping and songs. The show went on, even if it wasn’t in the way the brand intended as Caroline Trentini opened the show clad in colorful printed dress.
Featuring 71 looks, including a smattering of menswear styles, the models gracefully dodged puddles with some holding their shoes in hand, forgoing footwear in favor of bare feet. All of Gordon’s signatures were evident as the looks segued from tailoring to colorful striped sportswear styles to the brand’s instantly recognizable chiffon gowns. Standouts included a slinky crochet maxi dress that felt especially appropriate given it’s Rio location as well as the head-to-toe polka dot pieces but it’s the fluffy pink confections as well as the black-and-white closing look that are sure to be destined for a red carpet in the immediate future.
Heading to Rio makes sense for the brand — they do, after all, have history in Latin America as Mrs. Herrera is from Venezuela. It also happens to be an important market for their fragrance and beauty business as this show was also timed to the launch of their latest perfume, Good Girl Blush. While things may not have quite gone as intended for their first trip to Brazil, they say rain on your wedding day is good luck so why not a future full of good fortune for Carolina Herrera as well?
Photography courtesy of Carolina Herrera.
