While her peer, Oscar de la Renta, didn’t shy away from color and embellishments for his Pre-Fall 2011 collection, Carolina Herrera felt that subtle and simple was the way to go for her own collection. She asked style.com, “How many ball gowns can you have?” In fact, aside from a red column dress with back pleating (very reminiscent of one designed by Tia Cibani for Ports 1961 Spring 2010), there wasn’t a pop of color or a highly embellished look in the collection.
In Herrera’s case, however, the lack of frills made for a gorgeous, easy-to-wear collection with plenty of season-less frocks to choose from. Though she questioned how many one may need, the designer did offer a selection of ball gowns, including one fashioned out of a washed leopard print, a demure floor-sweeping gown in black, and a black and gold gown to close her collection.
The designer’s focus for the season was on lush materials (silk organza, duchess satin, wool jacquard), subtly vibrant prints (namely leopard spots), and refined details like pleated cap shoulder sleeves on a dress, a shooting star drizzling down a knee-length gray pencil skirt, ruching on fitted cocktail dresses, fox collars, and restrained embroidery.
Images by style.com
