Wes Gordon returns to New York with a Fall 2026 collection celebrating women in the arts and redefining contemporary glamour.
After travelling to Madrid last season, Carolina Herrera returned to New York with a proposal that connects fashion, history and artistic creation. For Fall 2026, Creative Director Wes Gordon centred his narrative on women who have shaped the art world, drawing inspiration from figures such as Peggy Guggenheim, whose personality and distinctive style became integral to her legacy.
The show transformed an industrial space in the Meatpacking District into an artist’s studio installation by American painter Sarah Oliphant, reinforcing the idea of a creative community. Real-life muses from the contemporary art scene — including Amy Sherald, Anh Duong, Ming Smith and Rachel Feinstein — walked the runway, strengthening the dialogue between fashion and culture.
In terms of silhouette, the collection balanced restrained glamour with layered references: hourglass waists recalling Hitchcock’s 1960s heroines, rounded ’80s-inspired shoulders and sculptural jackets infused with couture codes. Black-and-white leopard print emerged as a key motif across coats and pencil skirts, while green and purple sequinned dresses introduced fluid drama.
Details such as kitten heels adorned with bows and structured handbags with metallic embellishments grounded the exuberance with practicality. The result is a refined elegance that places Carolina Herrera in direct conversation with both tradition and modernity.
