Meet THE Man of The [Fashion] Moment
The Creative Director of Carolina Herrera, Wes Gordon, chats with Alina about what he and Mrs. Herrera never talk about… how a Warhol inspired him... and fatherhood!
If it feels like Wes Gordon is everywhere these days… well, it’s because he is.
In just the past few months, Gordon, creative director of Carolina Herrera, designed costumes for the American Ballet Theatre.
Walked the red carpet at the Met Gala.
Karlie Kloss (in Carolina Herrera) and Wes Gordon at the Met Gala, September 13, 2021
And picked up a prestigious award from the The Museum at FIT.
Carolina Herrera and Wes Gordon at The Museum at FIT's Couture Council Luncheon, September 22, 2021
That’s in addition to doing his day job.
Did I mention he’s also a new father? There’s that, too.
Full disclosure, Wes Gordon is a friend – a good friend.
Wes Gordon and Alina Cho in Capri, July 2017
I’m also a fan and have been since he first started designing clothes for a living more than a decade ago.
This year, the fashion house he oversees, Carolina Herrera, is marking a major milestone – 40 years in business.
We sat down recently to talk about how a Warhol portrait inspired him, how he and Mrs. Herrera never talk about fashion and how becoming a father changed everything.
FROM DRESSING HIS MOTHER TO DRESSING WOMEN EVERYWHERE
WES GORDON: I was always very fascinated by clothes. And I would sit in my mom's closet with her in the morning, she worked when I was younger, and would go to an office, and I’d pick out her outfits for her. Before I even had any concept of what I was doing, I would say, "This, this, this, and this."
ALINA CHO: Before you had a right to…
WES GORDON: And then I became very particular about what I would wear.
ALINA CHO: I feel like there's a famous old childhood photo [in which] you’re wearing suspenders.
WES GORDON: I was always in suspenders. I had a huge basketball belly. I was one of those little boys. And so, I'd have to wear suspenders to hold my pants up.
ALINA CHO: Hilarious.
WES GORDON: I loved art, painting, and drawing, that was my favorite part of the day. But all these interests just converged and came together into realizing that it was fashion that I love.
ALINA CHO: You graduated from [one of the best fashion schools in the world], Central Saint Martins in London.
WES GORDON: I spent four years in London and graduated in 2009, at a time when…
ALINA CHO: … the world was rough.
WES GORDON: The world was rough. It wasn't like people were hiring and growing businesses. So yes, we could chalk it up to, "I was so brave and bold and started my own collection," but it was also, if I wanted to make clothes and design, that was the way to do it then.
ALINA CHO: I bought a lot of Wes Gordon clothes.
WES GORDON: I know! At the time, so few stores were willing to make investments, particularly on young designers, but they were willing to give me a chance to do trunk shows, because there was no risk. The [clothes] were pre-sold. So, I was given this chance to literally go on the road, and carry a suitcase full of my samples, and go to every Saks, go to every Neiman’s, go to every specialty store, because I had to, because that was the only way to keep my business going. But because of it, I gained such an incredible relationship with our clients, who are the same clients [who now shop] at Carolina Herrera.
ALINA CHO: How did you get on the radar of Mrs. Herrera?
WES GORDON: I had my own line for almost eight years. You're very familiar with the industry. Every day is a battle, right? For survival. So, we made it almost eight years, and did some incredible things, despite every possible odd stacked against a young, four-person brand.
ALINA CHO: Right.
WES GORDON: One day out of the blue, I received a text message from Emilie [Rubinfeld, President, Carolina Herrera], who I didn't know, saying, "We'd love to chat with you about consulting for Herrera. Are you available?" I was like, "Yes, of course. Of course, I would." Because I was in the moment, winding down my own collection, and it just... the stars aligned.
ALINA CHO: And now, here you are as the creative director of this American heritage brand that's now 40 years old. It does seem like a dream job.
WES GORDON: I feel at home.
ALINA CHO: What does Mrs. Herrera say about [your designs]?
WES GORDON: I'll tell you the truth. We're great friends. I [dine with her often]. And we don't talk about work.
Wes Gordon and Carolina Herrera, September 2019, Photo credit: PaperCity Magazine
ALINA CHO: Really?
WES GORDON: Never. The beginning was learning from Mrs. Herrera, and then it was about doing a delicate waltz between my voice and her voice. And now I think I really have found my identity as creative director of Herrera.
ALINA CHO: It is very quintessentially Herrera and, yet, it is also now very quintessentially Wes Gordon, you know?
Carolina Herrera, Spring 2022 Collection
WES GORDON: I love that. When I was originally tasked with thinking through what is my plan for Herrera, what is my vision? It really started with that [famous Andy] Warhol portrait of her.
The color and the jewelry and the boldness, right?
ALINA CHO: Yes.
WES GORDON: And just this idea that in New York, where everyone's about a black car, and a black or gray outfit, let's stand for the woman who wants to be in head-to-toe hot pink, or who wants enormous earrings. And this zest for life, this flamboyance, this vitality — right now, we're in a moment where that is really resonating. And I think we're entering a chapter where that's going to resonate more than ever. We've been through a dark period. But things we choose to bring into our lives, more than ever, I think we want those to be happy, joyful things.
DESIGNING… A NEW HOUSEHOLD
ALINA CHO: Before we go, I do want to talk about this new human in your household.
WES GORDON: Oh my God, Henry.
ALINA CHO: I can't believe I haven't met him, yet.
WES GORDON: I've become that person. I was in Dallas [recently], and I've become the person who, 30 seconds into every conversation, has somehow found a way to take out [photos of him on my iPhone].
ALINA CHO: “Have you seen my baby?”
WES GORDON: Uh-huh. “Look at him.”
ALINA CHO: Well, he is cute.
WES GORDON: What was amazing, it took us two-and-a-half years.
ALINA CHO: Wow.
WES GORDON: We have a pride group at Herrera. I was a guest speaker about the whole journey because I learned so much in the process. Paul [Arnhold, my husband] and I are so committed to being total open books, because there's so much information people don't have about it. It's information you only learn when you go through it. It’s a whole village that comes together to create these babies.
ALINA CHO: How has having this extra human in your life changed you?
WES GORDON: Just suddenly, the new noises in your house. Your house just becomes the happiest place. Now, he's really playing with his voice. So, he just sings and laughs. It melts your heart. You don't realize that you have the capacity to love something as much as you do until you're holding your baby.