Carolina Herrera Steps Down From Her Brand—and Names Her Replacement

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Editors and influencers always clamor for a seat at Carolina Herrera's shows to see the elegant pieces, but her presentation on Monday, February 12, will now be one of the hottest tickets in town. As The New York Times reports, the designer has just announced that she will be stepping down as creative director of her eponymous brand, and she will take her last bow after her show on Monday.

Herrera has appointed designer Wes Gordon as her successor—the 31-year-old has served as her creative consultant for nearly a year. However, Herrera will not be fading away entirely. "Just don’t say I am retiring," Herrera told the NYT. "I am not retiring! I am moving forward." She won't be involved with day-to-day design decisions but will take on the role of global brand ambassador. 

In the NYT interview, Herrera also ruminated on the state of the industry right now. "Fashion has changed a lot," she said. "What they like now is ugliness. Women dress in a very strange way. Like clowns. There is a lot of pressure to change all the time. But it’s better to wear what suits you." Something tells us her successor won't be sending dad sneakers down the runway anytime soon. Read on to see our favorite looks from her most recent season, S/S 18.

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Erin Fitzpatrick
Senior News Editor

Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern over 12 years ago—back when the site only published a single story per day. (Who What Wear has since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC, which is how she ended up moving to Los Angeles from her hometown of San Diego. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2016, where she currently holds the title of senior news editor (as well as the unofficial title of resident royal expert—in case you haven't noticed her numerous Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton stories). She spends her days trying to incorporate her idols, Anna Wintour and Roger Federer, into as many stories as possible. Outside of work, she loves tennis, classic rock, traveling, and smothering her dog with affection.