CAROLINA HERRERA RESORT 2011

Ieva Laguna

"This is a very light collection," Carolina Herrera said as the first models strode out at an informal presentation in her Seventh Avenue showroom today. "Feminine and romantic." This designer has probably put those words together many times before, but the clothes did have an appealingly unfussy quality that has sometimes gone missing from Herrera's runway shows. Her explanation: This isn't about fantasy or pretty pictures, it's about real life.

Audi Martel

The woman whose real life calls for a ball gown has plenty to choose from here: A blossom pink textured organza strapless dress was an understated, modern knockout, and if it's drama the wearer's after, a gray Chantilly lace floor-scraper should fit the bill. Knee-length cocktail numbers were hardly an afterthought, though. Among the variations Herrera showed, a strapless dress in a watercolor print she called "her Monet" was particularly lovely. As for suits, it isn't necessarily easy to romance houndstooth, but she managed to do it by softly draping the jacket's lapels and marrying it to cuffed trousers and matching Manolo Blahnik pumps. All in all, a terrific Herrera outing.

Taryn Davidson

Aminata Niaria

Chrissy Haldis

Danijela Dimitrovska

Tayane Leão

Audi Martel

Georgina Stojilkovic

Tabea Koebach

Laura Blokhina

Ksenia Kahnovich

Yana Karpova

Ieva Laguna

Taryn Davidson

Aminata Niaria

Chrissy Haldis

Audi Martel

Tayane Leão

Laura Blokhina

Danijela Dimitrovska

Tabea Koebach

Ksenia Kahnovich

Yana Karpova

Ieva Laguna

CAROLINA HERRERA PRE-FALL 2010.

CAROLINA HERRERA

PRE-FALL 2010 COLLECTION.

"I wanted everything light as a feather," Carolina Herrera said about pre-fall.

MODEL: AUDI

Where better to look for inspiration than the tango? The designer used a colorful 1920's print of dancers locked arm in arm for both a crepe de chine cocktail dress and a floor-length shirt gown, and its bold hues—lava red, dandelion yellow, and Directoire blue—informed the rest of a cheerful collection that played to the designer's strengths.

Herrera's tweed separates are so airy you can practically see through them, though her lineup was mostly dresses: above-the-knee blouson shifts and fitted sheaths, some with embroidered brooches, for day; and, for after eight, a moiré draped one-shoulder column and a floral-print jacquard dot fils coupe number sure to see a lot of action on the gala circuit.

MODEL: YANA KARPOVA.

The pièce de résistance was a strapless multi-stripe gown with long train made from a single piece of draped duchesse satin.

It wasn't necessarily made for dancing, but it would make an unforgettable entrance.

MODEL: ALYONA OSMANOVA.

MODEL: OLGA SHERER.

MODEL: AMINATA NIARIA.

MODEL: DARIA STROKOUS.

MODEL: RIANNE TEN HAKEN.