Optimism and prettiness have long numbered among Carolina Herrera’s signatures, but she’s done a particularly good job evoking them with her new Resort collection—at a time when we (fashion, America, the world) have never needed them more. Herrera said she looked to the gardens at her home in her native Venezuela for her flower motifs, and the exuberant colors she pulled from them for other pieces. What was noteworthy about her palette this season was its mix-and-match freedom. A breezily terrific gown in pink and blue striped technical taffeta was finished with a cherry red sash belt, and she combined unexpected hues just as nimbly elsewhere.
That newfound playfulness carried over into some of Herrera’s silhouettes. Buoyant floor-length skirts in mimosa floral prints were paired with snug ribbed-knit tanks for a fresh, youthful look. A black and white stripe fit-and-flare dress made from a technical knit had a similarly vivacious spirit in a more all-ages shape. Flowers and color played a smaller role in the more casual part of Herrera’s Resort story. In this category, the standout material was a lightweight striped denim that she cut into an A-line skirt, a sleeveless tunic worn belted (as many of the looks for day and night were here), and skinny flares. Best of all was the sleeveless dress with contrast stitching, white buttons, and deep pockets.
