The Californian super bloom sets the scene for Carolina Herrera's spring/summer 2020 looks, says creative director, Wes Gordon. Here, the American designer tells MOJEH why he was drawn to the wild flower and how the designs reflect the Middle Eastern woman.
Carolina Herrera creative director, Wes Gordon
When I was designing the SS20 collection, I was fascinated by this natural phenomenon that was the Californian super bloom. Wild flowers were carpeting hills that would normally be dry land because of irregular rain and pollination patterns.
I was drawn to the pigment-rich colors and that rich visual impact. I wanted to translate the hyper-saturated and a rich color palette into this collection. Everything from vibrant yellow, hot pink, brilliant orange and bold blue mix with prints that resembled ephemeral desert fields blanketed in lilies, verbena and lupine.
Carolina Herrera SS20
In this collection, silhouettes are dramatically short or extravagantly long and were molded to resemble beautiful shapes found in nature. Yards of delicate silks are draped to mimic a budding rose and move like a wildflower on a windy day. I also used light chiffons, gazars and cottons with embroideries of lily of the valley and roses, as well as black and white polka dots – the veritable neutral of the house of Herrera.
Carolina Herrera SS20
Every season I’m inspired by the powerful and strong woman of the world. The woman that has her own style and knows what works for her. Fashion is an outlet to express yourself and it injects instant joy into your life with the purchase of a look. This to me summarizes the Middle Eastern woman and her passion for craftsmanship, design and colour.
Now more than ever, I’m inspired to continue creating designs that will make you smile and bring joy. In a world that has so much uncertainly and darkness, I turn to colour and inspiration in nature and culture as a means of personal expression.
Carolina Herrera SS20
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