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 If we all need a reason to justify our existence, Oscar
de la Renta ought to have been born if only to design an iconic pink gown with
a thin black belt. Be his achievements limited to this single flash of genius, women
around the world would be infinitely grateful to him for this chic gown perfect
for multiple occasions, including a romantic date, an evening at the theater,
and social events. Fortunately, de la Renta is a workaholic committed to the
world of fashion, that's why his fashion empire has been in the limelight for
over 40 years.
Oscar de la Renta's career in fashion began in the
late 1950's when he studied painting at the Academy of San Fernando in
Madrid.
However, he quickly changed his focus from painting to fashion. While
living in
Spain, he became interested in the world of design and began sketching
for
leading Spanish fashion houses, which soon led to an apprenticeship with
Spain's most renowned couturier, Cristobal Balenciaga. In 1956, Mrs.
John
Lodge, the wife of the US ambassador to Spain, saw some of de la Renta's
drawings and commissioned him to make a wedding dress for her daughter
Beatrice. In 1961, Oscar de la Renta left Spain to join Antonio Castillo
as a
couture assistant at Lanvin in Paris.
In 1963, torn between designing custom clothing for
Elizabeth Arden, shoes and accessories and designing ready-to-wear for
Christian Dior-New York, de la Renta turned for advice to Diana
Vreeland, the
editor-in-chief of Vogue, saying that what he really wanted was to «get
into ready to wear, because that's where the money is». Vreeland
replied, «Then
go to Arden because you will make your reputation faster. She is not a
designer, so she will promote you. At the other place, you will always
be
eclipsed by the name of Dior». De la Renta proceeded to work for Arden
for two
years before in 1965 he went to work for Jane Derby and launched his own
label.
When Derby died in August 1965 Oscar de la Renta took over the label.
De la Renta's clothes incorporated his Latin American
passion for brilliant color, his European-trained eye for luxurious
fabrics and
embellishments, and his exceptional understanding for all things
feminine - the
line became an instant favorite among media and retailers. He developed a
reputation as a designer of extravagant, opulent yet tasteful clothes
integrating a number of influences, including rigid architecture of
Balenciaga designs
and flowing feminine Lanvin styles that merge to create simple and
austere
designs, pure colors, fitting and sometimes rigid silhouettes that
constitute
signature Oscar de la Renta style.
A master of beauty and melding global influences, over
his nearly 60 year career at the forefront of fashion, Oscar de la Renta
has
always understood how to make clothing for the women who seek
astonishing,
entrance-making gowns for galas or parties or a flawlessly cut dress to
wear to
the office. His beautifully crafted, unabashedly ultrafeminine clothes
have
made de la Renta's fashions coveted by women with style for decades.
De la Renta does not try to reconcile irreconcilable
betting on shocking contrasts that is often the case with other
designers. At Oscar
de la Renta, you can find a dress of bright yellow, sky blue, cheerful
orange,
coral, and juicy olive hues. His pinks suit not only young girls, but
older women.
His black and whites are far from dull - de la Renta loves to experiment
with
the ethnic motives, using non-typical color palette.
Since opening his fashion house in 1965, Oscar de la
Renta has been shameless in devoting his career to classic style, and
exquisitely constructed clothing designed for the bodies and lifestyles
of real
women.
A master of his craft, de la Renta knows how to cut.
His silhouettes are forgiving thanks to sturdy fabrics which never cling
or
reveal too much; Oscar de la Renta's clothes have so much structure
integrated
into the garments themselves, that they hide whatever flaws a woman may
have.
In addition to his ready-to-wear and couture lines,
Oscar de la Renta has created lines of accessories, eyewear, fragrances,
retail, bridal, and home and furniture collections.
Along with Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta is one of the
most popular bridal wear designers. His signature bridal silhouette
showcased
in nearly all his collections from season to season is a fitted gown
with a strapless
bodice, open shoulders, accentuated slim waist and mermaid skirt,
hugging the
body at the hips and showing those feminine curves to advantage.
The world of Oscar de la Renta also includes a high
end sportswear collection (OSCAR by Oscar de la Renta), cosmetic cases,
eyewear, furs, jewelry, lingerie, scarves, sleepwear, and swimwear.
For men, de la Renta licenses products, including
hosiery, sport coats, suits, and trousers. In South and Central America
and
Mexico there is a Sportswear line for men and boys and OSCAR JEANS, for
men and
women. Oscar de la Renta has also ventured into the home with both
furniture
and home fragrance collections.
2002 marks the debut of Intrusion, the latest Oscar de
la Renta fragrance for women. Oscar de la Renta launched his first
perfume,
Oscar, in 1977. Today, Oscar is a bestseller in over 70 countries and
winner of
the 1991 Fragrance Foundation Perennial Success Award. In 1980, he
created a
fragrance for men, Pour Lui.
In 1995, Oscar de la Renta was the recipient of the
Living Legend Award from the American Society of Perfumes. In the fall
of 1999,
Oscar de la Renta introduced Oscar for Men. Oscar de la Renta's talents
receive
continual international recognition. Among many other honors, Oscar de
la Renta
received the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Womenswear
Designer
of the Year Award in 2000. In February 1990, he was honored with the
CFDA
Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dressing at de la Renta is a
synonym of being rich, but also a sign of commitment to feminine style,
which excites
only admiration, and not a hint of ridicule or mockery as it is natural
and
completely free of affectation and pretense. Oscar de la Renta fashion
translates as a sumptuousness of sensuous fabrics, perfect fit, and rich
colors
that never disappoint.
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