Danish model and entrepreneur Mathilde Gøhler takes Vogue Scandinavia behind the scenes of her Carolina Herrera’s Spanish reverie – from the scent-soaked Good Girl suite to the SS26 show front row
Framed by the golden glow of late-summer Madrid, Danish model and entrepreneur Mathilde Gøhler stepped into Carolina Herrera’s world – a heady blend of fashion, fragrance and unmistakable Spanish spirit.
Gøhler's Herrera journey started in her hotel room in the heart of the city, where the pulse of Madrid was quietened met the softness of marble suites and mirror-lit dressing rooms. From her window, the capital buzzed. "We’re in Madrid, and the atmosphere is absolutely amazing – so many beautiful people in so many inspiring outfits,” Mathilde said, adding the final beauty touches to her Carolina Herrera look before the evening began to unfold.
The night before the show, Carolina Herrera gathered its muses and friends at Liria Palace, the historic, private home of the Alba family, for an intimate welcome dinner. Under frescoed ceilings and by winding topary bushes, guests mingled and dined before a live flamenco performance closed the night with thunderous passion For Mathilde, it was a glimpse into the emotional heart of the house’s Spanish tribute.
The following day offered a different kind of immersion: the Good Girl fragrance suite, a plush oasis perfumed with notes of jasmine, sandalwood and orange blossom. Here, surrounded by the signature stiletto-shaped bottles and engless blooms, Mathilde rediscovered one of Herrera’s most beloved icons. “When I wear Good Girl by Carolina Herrera, I feel confident and ready to take it on,” she said, spritzing the scent before heading to Plaza Mayor, invite in hand for the landmark spring/summer '26 show. En route, heels clicking across the cobblestones, La Bomba – Carolina Herrera’s newly launched fragrance – shimmered from every corner of the city. Its butterfly-wing motif lit up digital billboards, boutique windows and café awnings, the campaign’s vivid pink glow reflecting off surrounding stone.
After witnessing the SS26 line-up from the front row, Gøhler described creative director Wes Gordon’s 79-look collection as northing short of “incredible.” She noted her appreciation for the collection’s blend of femininity and structure, rendered in unmistakable Herrera style. “My favourite look from the show was look number two,” Gøhler added. “It was a beautiful long creamy white dress with a lot of details, and it was worn by my super gorgeous model friend,” she recalled, smiling at one of the night’s standout moments.
Gøhler's favourite look of the SS26 show. .
As the final model disappeared backstage and the crowd spilled into the square, it was clear this was more than a show – it was a spectacle that had turned Madrid into a living moodboard of colour, confidence and celebration. From the front row, guests made a beeline to the La Bomba Party at Casino Royale – a fitting finale to a Carolina Herrera experience that Gøhler described as “feminine, fearless, forever.”
Gøhler arriving at the La Bomba Party at Casino Royale.