April 27, 2016
Carolina Herrera resort 2016
Designer Carolina Herrera is racking up awards for her outstanding contributions to fashion, culture and design throughout the course of her life and career.
The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia will present Ms. Herrera with the university’s Étoile Award on May 20, in a ceremony that is free and open to the public. Seperately, retailer Neiman Marcus has also selected Ms. Herrera as the recipient of this year’s Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion, an award honoring those who have made an impact in the fashion industry.
Awards season
Since 1995, the Carolina Herrera brand has been owned by Puig, a group that holds both fashion and beauty businesses. Carolina Herrera sells women’s wear, menswear and accessories around the world. The United States is the strongest market for the brand, followed by the Middle East.
A defining element of Ms. Herrera’s 35-year career has been her undying commitment to staying true to her vision and aesthetic, not leaning into fads (see story).
Illustration of Carolina Herrera by David Downton, 2012
The Savannah College of Art and Design Étoile Award honors Ms. Herrera’s accomplishments and will be complemented by an expansive dual exhibition of her designs. Titled “Refined Irreverence” and opening May 20, the day the award is given, the exhibition will be held simultaneously at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta and the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah, GA.
Curated by Rafael Gomes, SCAD director of fashion exhibitions, the retrospective features 75 garments, both new and vintage, from her 1981 inaugural collection through today.
“It is a great privilege to fete 35 years of Carolina Herrera’s timeless elegance, and to engage SCAD students with a designer par excellence,” said Paula Wallace, SCAD president/founder in a statement. “Her artistry reflects a sensibility that is at once classic and modern. Every woman who wears her designs feels exactly as Carolina intends: beautiful.”
Fellow SCAD Étoile Award winners include David Yurman, Catherine Deneuve, Sir David Tang and Margaret Russell.
Likewise, Neiman Marcus will present Ms. Herrera with its Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion at an in-store event Sept. 16 at its downtown Dallas, TX flagship. The award has been given since 1938 when Stanley Marcus, son of co-founder Herbert Marcus, instituted the accolade to honor those who have made an impact on the fashion world through designing, promoting or wearing fashion in a way that influences the public.
On Sept. 16, Ms. Herrera will receive her award during the annual Crystal Charity Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show and Luncheon, where her resort 2016 collection will walk the runway. Neiman Marcus has carried Ms. Herrera’s line since its debut in 1981, and through this effort is celebrating the designer’s 35th anniversary.
Carolina Herrera, resort 2016 collection
“We are delighted to present Carolina Herrera with the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion,” said Karen Katz, CEO of Neiman Marcus Group, in a statement. “Few have accomplished this as gracefully as Ms. Herrera in her 35 years in the fashion industry.”
Past honorees include HSH the Princess Grace of Monaco, Estee Lauder, Coco Chanel, Oscar de La Renta, Giorgio Armani and Miuccia Prada. Karl Lagerfeld was the most recent recipient in 2013.
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