It Seems Like Yesterday

Carolina Herrera at home in New York City. (Photo by Harry Benson)

Looking for the right photograph for this month’s issue on fashion, I came across a one which I love, of the elegant Carolina Herrera with her beautiful, fluffy cat taken in her New York home in 1989. And happily Quest’s head honcho, the ineffable Chris Meigher, agreed.

Carolina, along with her talented husband, Reinaldo, is of course a major, major force in the fashion industry. Carolina is also a wonderful mother to her children.

A point to note: Gigi remembers when our daughter, Wendy, was at school with young Carolina. Gigi was asked to come up with an idea for a fundraiser for their grade. Immediately Gigi called Carolina, who graciously and without hesitation delivered a full- blown, amazing, runway show of her latest collection, models and all—all in the school’s auditorium on a portable runway, also courtesy of Carolina’s generosity. Needless to say it was a ‘first ever’ and a huge success; a major coup for both Gigi and Carolina.

Over the years, I have photographed Carolina several times, and she has always been the most gracious, elegant, and obliging person... it is deep within herpersonality.

And one last note. Gigi was delighted when Carolina wore a stunning short white dress as she married Renaldo in 1968—very similar to the one Gigi wore when we got married a year earlier!