CAROLINA HERRERA

(b. 1939) Carolina Herrera began designing in 1981, but for many years prior that that she was known as a style setter, especially in her native South America.  She was from an affluent family, and that has caused her to be grouped with other wealthy designers of the 1980s as the Socialite Designers. 

From the beginning, Herrera's clothes have been feminine but comfortable.  In 1986 she started a secondary line, CH by Carolina Herrera, which used less expensive fabrics that her top line, but that incorporated the same design details.  In 1986 Herrera designed the wedding dress of Carolina Kennedy, which led to her starting a wedding dress label the following year.

The first Carolina Herrera Boutique opened in 2000, and today there are more than foue dozen stores worldwide.