NET-A-PORTER And Carolina Herrera Head To The English Countryside For A Summer Capsule Celebration
After their Chloé event earlier this month, NET-A-PORTER and Carolina Herrera swapped the city for the Kent countryside to celebrate the launch of their exclusive summer capsule collection.
Hosted by NET-A-PORTER CEO Heather Kaminetsky and Carolina Herrera Creative Director Wes Gordon, guests travelled aboard the British Pullman before arriving at Gusbourne Estate for lunch among the vineyards during one of the hottest days of the year.
The setting couldn’t have been more fitting for a collection built around carefree summer dressing. As Wes Gordon explained, the capsule pays tribute to one of the house’s enduring signatures.
“The polka-dot print is a significant part of our heritage here at Carolina Herrera, featuring in the very first collections in 1981. When I designed this capsule collection with NET-A-PORTER, I wanted to nod to this foundational print and ultimately create dresses that feel beautiful and fun.”
That philosophy was reflected throughout the guest list, where timeless polka dots sat alongside painterly florals, offering different interpretations of summer style.
Vintage Holiday Glamour
Erin O’Connor couldn’t have sold this collection any better.
Her navy-and-white polka-dot halter dress instantly transported me to the glamorous European Riviera of the 1950s and ’60s. With its nipped waist, full skirt and halter neckline, it had that timeless holiday elegance you associate with vintage postcards from the Côte d’Azur.
Sam Lort for NET-A-PORTER
The slicked-back hair and oversized black sunglasses only strengthened that old-Hollywood mood, but I’m wondering about the black accessories. White sandals and a white bag would’ve lightened the styling and tied in more naturally with the crisp white polka dots.
Would you have finished this look with white accessories instead?
Polka Dots, The Modern Way
Poppy Delevingne also got the polka-dot memo, but interpreted it through a far more contemporary lens.
The pale-blue two-piece, featuring a structured bralette and high-waisted wide-leg trousers, felt fresh, relaxed and perfectly suited to a summer afternoon in the vineyards. It offered a younger take on the print without losing the unmistakable Carolina Herrera DNA.
Sam Lort for NET-A-PORTER / Sam Simpson/Dave Benett/Getty Images for NET-A-PORTER x Carolina Herrera
The look was styled with Carolina Herrera gold-tone crystal floral earrings. My only complaint is the trouser length. A pair of towering platforms would’ve eliminated those breaks at the hem and sharpened the proportions.
Even so, this was my favourite look of the afternoon. It’s exactly the kind of effortless summer set I’d happily wear, provided there was plenty of SPF within arm’s reach.
A Different Side
Saffron Hocking isn’t someone I naturally associate with romantic garden-party dressing.
Her Carolina Herrera floral gown had an ethereal quality, with soft shades of lilac, pink and blue blooming across the fabric. The structured bodice balanced the volume of the skirt beautifully, while the sweeping silhouette moved effortlessly through the vineyard setting.
Sam Lort for NET-A-PORTER
Even without the idyllic backdrop, this dress would have made an impression. The location simply amplified its charm.
Pretty In Petals
Ikram Abdi also opted for florals instead of polka dots, and what a stunning choice it was.
This Carolina Herrera flowing shirt dress, printed with oversized painterly blooms, comes in yellow and black, but I think the soft blush-pink version is easily the strongest of the three. The lighter palette allows the watercolour effect to shine and feels perfectly aligned with the relaxed countryside setting.
Sam Lort for NET-A-PORTER / Sam Simpson/Dave Benett/Getty Images for NET-A-PORTER x Carolina Herrera
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