Behind the Scenes Studio Tour at Carolina Herrara

Having grown up in Los Angeles, I’ve never been one to get overly starstuck.  However I dare anyone to not get a little clammy in the presence of Carolina Herrara.  She is a true icon and the epitome of class and grace.  Usually it is my job to make my client feel at ease and very rarely do I feel nervous, but walking down her beautiful dark wood lined hallways I was trembling a little and when she smiled and shook my hand and asked for direction she immediately put me at ease.  Mrs. Herrara has been photographed by some of the most amazing photographers in the world who I’ve spent many years studying (including a stunning Mapplethorpe portrait about to be inducted into the National Portrait Gallery in DC) so I felt an immense honor and responsibility to capture her beautifully- and she really is so stunning in person.  I placed her on her signature Carolina Herrara striped couch underneath a Hirshfeld sketch of herself and a portrait of her at six years old.  I then walked around her offices, which are filled with beautiful books, artifacts, photographs, sketches and mementos from past collections.  One of my favorite details was in Creative Director Herve Pierre’s office- lampshades pinned with artifacts from past collections including a picture of the fabric Marie Antoinette used for her drapes at Versailles and the violin pieces they placed on a models back a few years ago for a collection inspired by another one of my favorite artist’s Man Ray.  It was such a pleasure to get this behind the scenes peek into the world of Mrs. Herrara!  Head over to Style Me Pretty for more stories and behind the scenes photographs from our afternoon.