Daily Front Row

2010 September 14

Runway Reviews: Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan

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Carolina Herrera Spring 2011
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(NEW YORK) CAROLINA HERRERA
Carolina Herrera sure knows how to wake up a Monday morning crowd. Her superb spring collection featured 52 looks, 52 supers, and lot of delightfully colorful, garden-inspired eye candy. The collection derived from 18th century botanical prints, many of which were incorporated into the collection. Korean origami was also referenced on breathtaking gowns, like Iris' raspberry showstopper. Other standouts included Abbey's lovely cocoon dress, Lily's stunning beige crystal wonder and Karlie's wow-worthy closing number. Swanepoel hats added to the show's apeal; in all, a very admirable, confident accomplishment for the designer.

DONNA KARAN
“The urban woman embracing nature as she expresses herself,” was the mantra for Donna Karan’s spring collection, which was looser and more nonfigurative than her previous few efforts. The tones were of natural notes: parchment, driftwood, and vanilla, as the models paraded in Karan’s version of comfortable crushed pajama pants, chiffon blouses, and easy slip dresses. Standout gowns included a silk lame gold dress on Frida and the bronzed embroidered gown on Karlie. This was a collection that aimed to emphasize ease, though at times it had us itching for Karan’s more defined taste of glamour.