Thank you Oscar !

Thinking of glamour-dressing to the max, but with style and class – you had to think of Oscar de la Renta. The American designer – born in Puerto Rico – died october 21st at the age of 82.

His career began in the 1950s in Spain and sprawled across the better living rooms of Paris and New York. De la Renta was the last survivor of a generation of bold, all-seeing tastemakers.  Though ill with cancer for close to eight years, Oscar de la Renta was resilient. During that period his business grew by 50 percent, to $150 million in sales, as his name became linked to celebrity events like the Oscars. Amy Adams, Sarah Jessica Parker and Penélope Cruz were among the actresses who wore his dresses. Recently his biggest thing was to make the ivory tulle gown that Amal Alamuddin wore to wed George Clooney in Venice.

Oscar de la Renta achieved fame as a couturier to socialites and as a red-carpet king. He also dressed four American first ladies, but it was Hollywood glamour that defined him for a new age and a new customer.

Here are some highlights of his collections from the past five years.

 

 

 

 

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show New York Womenswear SS2014

For next summer Oscar de la Renta again succeeded in creating beautiful designs in which every woman can look like the best version of herself. Pencil skirts, lace dresses, A-line skirts; his collection once again was a celebration of femininity. And the designer might have turned 82 this summer, he proved he can still produce pieces that, although intended mostly classic, feel young and fresh. He showed checks, polka dots, hounds tooth and floral prints on classical skirts suits and dresses. As he introduced a wide series of flared dresses things got a little more playful and colorful. Chunky necklaces and large colored earrings added to that effect. A selection of beige shaded skirts and tops felt young and perfect for a  young A-lister’s red carpet appearance during upcoming award season. But there’s no doubt the more dramatic, Elizabethan gowns (with ruffs, embroideries and lace incl. a few veiled numbers) that closed the show, will find their way into some celebrity’s hands either.

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show Womenswear New York FW2013

Was this fall-collection of Oscar de La Renta a collaboration with John Galliano or not? Not one will know for sure. The American designer took the bow at the end and Galliano stayed backstage. Certain looks seemed to bear the Englishman’s hand, especially the opening jackets and  also the marcelled locks and deeply shaded, greasy eyes were familiar from his Paris days. Other pieces seemed more like vintage de la Renta, and that was good.

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2012

A star studded front row (with Justin Timberlake, Ashley Olsen, Valentino and Nicki Minaj) enjoyed a remarkable fresh spring collection at Oscar de la Renta’s 42^nd Street showroom. Frizzy haired models sported De la Renta’s beautifully handcrafted design, which felt younger than we’ve seen before in his over forty years in fashion.

Extravagant ball gowns were mixed with tiny couture lace T-shirts, the cutest spring dresses were worn with wide belts and loose pants were perfectly matched with elegant short jackets.

A black tight dress with dozens of white tassels seemed perfect for a night out, a yellow ball gown with puffy sleeves looked like it belonged in a fairytale.

The color palette ranging from yellow to grass green, nudes, pink and red felt perfect for spring. The models looked natural and confident. The overall vibe was easy-going, wearable, ladylike and fresh.

It was a collection that might have some younger girls hitting the stores for their own piece of ODLR. And for the loyal ODLR- customers, there will be lots of great designs to choose from as well.

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show New York SS2011

It was a typical Oscar de la Renta-show, full of pretty dresses, dramatic evening-gowns and impeccable make up. But somehow it all looked a bit too retro to me, the hair, the accessories, the setting, the mix, even the music.

I’m sure there are ladies who adore his style, but it has very little to do with fashion and new ideas.  This is Oscar. And Oscar is what you get : a dream of young girls going to their prom.

There were ladylike tweeds, windowpane plaids, and raffia embroidered linen garments.  For cocktail hour, there were a number of modern dresses, like a strapless dress in navy gazar embroidered with black organza or a white swansdown tutu. The evening gowns looked like promdresses, some with just one shoulderstrap, the other with a matching bolero, ruffled or with embroideries all over.

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show New York FW2010

The first things that caught our attention at the Oscar de la Renta fashion show were Jessica Biel sitting front row and the hair and make-up of the models. All girls had a classic look going on: beautiful eyes and lips and flawless curls. Even the spiky hair of model Freja Beha Erichsen now looked amazing.

The clothes were pretty impressive as well. The striking colors alone would make you look twice on the street. A woollen coat in red had a purple fur collar. A silk dress came in shiny orange, followed by a cobalt blue one. We also saw outfits in emerald green, turquoise and pink.

A couple of designs had a busy indescribable print, others were embellished with sequins in different shapes and sizes.

All models were very well-dressed. The dresses all stopped at knee-length and had very decent collars and necklines. The collection was spiced up a bit by some transparent tops and a pair of trousers (one of the three trousers in the whole collection) with several cut-outs.

Oscar’s evening dresses seemed to belong to four different collections. Some were column shaped, other were voluptuous. A few had floral prints, others had small polka dots. Some had sequins, others were transparent. A few came in black and white, others were turquoise or fuchsia colored.

The final dress was our favourite one: long, silver colored and shiny. It had a gorgeous collar and was completed with the perfect belt, brooch and clutch.

Overall Oscar de la Renta showed an elegant, feminine collection, yet he should have made it a little bit more cohesive.

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show SS10

It was not Oscar the la Renta’s best show, but there were still more than enough rich details to go around as if we’re not in the middle of a crisis.  There was a lot of color too.  A vibrant  safari suit updated with wide sleeves and cropped pants, a smart silk  dress with a draped neckline in pale melon, and a bronze linen trench with pushed-up sleeves stood out among white broderie anglaise and creamy tweeds.

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show SS10

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show FW09

Oscar de la Renta Catwalk Fashion Show SS09