Review of Carolina Herrera Fall 2023 Fashion Show
Opulence & Optimism
By Obi Anyanwu
How do you define luxury?
Is it measured in price? Is it measured in exclusivity?
Many regard time as the only luxury. Both infinite and finite, time is one thing we have so much of yet not enough of. We’ll always have tomorrow, but we can’t have yesterday back. We can’t guarantee we’ll see tomorrow either, which motivates us to live life to the fullest and not take our time for granted.
Herrera is a house that has a promise of beauty and joy and gorgeous fabrics cut in beautiful shapes and it’s that simple.
When it comes to luxury fashion, time is measured in the duration it takes to make a garment, as well as the amount of years to develop your craft. You will become disciplined in whatever you devote your time to. You can’t beat time.
Opulence is a key theme for the Carolina Herrera Fall/Winter 2023 collection, as well as ‘Sisi’, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who spent much of her time on her beauty and fitness. Sounds like ‘Sisi’ invented the influencer lifestyle. We joke, but there’s a connection there.
Extreme opulence today looks like pilates, freshly squeezed juices, and meal prepping; it looks like “Get Ready With Me” videos and highlight reels of outfits and expanding wardrobes; it looks like endless brunches and espresso martinis at the hot new lounges and restaurants. It’s Fairchild’s “Ladies Who Lunch” on a small screen.
But designer Wes Gordon’s approach to opulence removes the contrived presentation of optimistic leisure found on social media for a less-contrived, more thoughtful collection.
“When times are dark and unpredictable, and every day you wake up to a scarier headline, the antidote to that doesn’t necessarily have to be an over-intellectualized exercise in grey and darkness and black,” Gordon said.
“Herrera is a house that has a promise of beauty and joy and gorgeous fabrics cut in beautiful shapes and it’s that simple. It’s not more complicated. I’ve come to love that, and our clients come to us for that so yes, I hope they feel like the most beautiful, confident versions of themselves.”
Wes Gordon’s approach to opulence removes the contrived presentation of optimistic leisure found on social media for a less-contrived, more thoughtful collection.
Sisi had her routine, the woman of today has her routine, and this collection is the wardrobes to accompany the many steps women take to feel like their best selves. That’s if they want to perform for the world, their phones, or themselves. It’s opulence on their terms and by their time.