Carolina Herrera, a Biography
Few designers can create an ambiance of class beyond our loftiest imaginings that releases our senses to an atmosphere rich with aesthetic and aromatic enchantment. For this we must embark on a journey through history to Venezuela during the late 1930’s. At this time Guillermo Pacanins, a descendant of political and territorial leaders in South America, who trace their roots 400 years to Spain, and his wife María Cristina are anticipating the arrival of, one, who forty years later would revolutionize the clothing and fragrance industries. Born María Carolina Josephina Picanins y Niño in 1939, Carolina Herrera, as she is known throughout the world, discovered she had penchant for design when her grandmother took her to a fashion show in Paris, France presented by Cristobal Balenciaga, one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. Herrera says that she still owes much of her inspiration to his legendary work.
During her adolescence, Carolina caught the attention of a young man, Reinaldo Herrera. He was the brother of Carolina’s childhood friend and namesake, Carolina Herrera. Although the two were in love, fate led Carolina to marry another. She wed Guillermo Behrens Tello and during their 7 years of marriage had two daughters.
As her life went on, she found herself back home with her parents and two daughters in Caracas, Venezuela. While working in Public Relations she was once again dazzled by the allure of high society, particularly by one such socialite, the mother of Reinaldo, María Teresa "Mimi" Herrera. Call it chance, call it destiny, but in 1968 Reinaldo flew back to Venezuela and eventually proposed to an agreeable Carolina. Together they also had two daughters, Carolina Adriana, who works closely with her mother and Patricia Cristina, who works for Vanity Fair.
Throughout this time Carolina had been working steadily at her hobbies of designing clothes and creating perfumes from oils and essences for her personal use. It was not until 1980 that Carolina presented her first show which received brilliant reviews by critics and couture connoisseurs alike. In 1981, the Herrera family moved to New York where Carolina opened a small showroom. She also unveiled her first collection for the “who’s who” of New York and since then has become an icon for class and elegance in designer fashion.
At the end of the 1980’s, Carolina had reached an agreement with a perfume company based in Spain, Antonio Puig, S.A., to market the fragrances that she had produced throughout her life. The first perfume, Carolina Herrera, was launched in 1988 and her second fragrance, Herrera for Men, was released in 1991. These scents have become classics for romance and formal use, with variations being added often. Flore, a fresh, fruity and floral perfume, hit the market in 1994 and was followed by a refreshing and aquatic sensation, Aquaflore in 1996.
The Carolina Herrera fashion and fragrance dynasty continues with her daughter Carolina Adriana. The pair collaborated in 1997 to develop a line of fragrances for women and men called 212 with several variations (H2O, On Ice, Sexy, etc…) and for a wide range of occasions. The latest line includes Chic and Chic So Chic, which are fragrances available for men and women made from a mixture of ambry woods and soft floral essences.
Today, if you go to New York, there is a sophisticated, mature and strong woman who is still as passionate about fashion and fragrances as was the feminine and delicate young girl who first mesmerized Venezuela with her sense of style and charm. Allow me to end with Carolina’s own words about her life and legacy: “With my clothing and fragrances, I believe that it is best to be realistic, but to always mix a bit of fantasy with reality. It's the same with life, really."
