Oscar de la Renta 2009 Collections
Fashion Designer Oscar de la Renta at New York Fashion Week
Sep 15, 2008
Dubbed the unofficial couturier to first ladies, Seventh Avenue designer Oscar de la Renta, the darling of First Ladies Reagan, Clinton and Bush, has been in the business for almost 60 years. At the tender age of 76 he still continues to design his collections and remains chairman of the fashion house. His son-in-law Alex Bolen became chief executive of the company in 2004.
The Dominican-born designer launched his namesake ready-to-wear collection back in 1965, followed by swimwear, lingerie, eyewear, fragrance, jewelry and bridalwear.
Traditional Designs for the Modern Woman
Famous for his traditional designs he prefers to take his inspiration from a woman’s life and her figure, rather than themes used by more modern designers such as Marc Jacobs or Balenciaga. His label is as much loved today, by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Jessica Parker as in Nancy Reagan's day.
Oscar de la Renta’s dynasty is legendary within the well-heeled elite. Having designed inaugural gowns for Clinton and Bush), the label was thrust once again into the spotlight when both Laura Bush and Cindy McCain choose to wear his designs for their big speech at the Republican Party convention. Barbara Bush looked regal in a cream-embroidered suit, and Cindy McCain choose a colorful butter-cup yellow shirt dress worn with her trademark 4-strands of pearls — the value of her head-to-toe ensemble was later estimated at around $300,000 by Vanity Fair magazine.
Oscar de la Renta Spring 2009 at NY Fashion Week
September 10th, 2008 saw him showcase the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2009 collection at New York Fashion Week for Spring 2009. From luxurious fabrics to swoon over in silk faille strapless gowns a gray, blue and silver brocade sway-back coats to crisp white shirts and softly structured pantsuits. There were neutrals aplenty with soft grays, oyster and beiges and whiter-than-whites and classic navys. Elements of 2008 returned, like the dirndl skirt and painterly prints continued to feature in this collection. Outfits were heavily accessorized with corset belts, multi-strand necklaces and brooches. Among the show's most compelling pieces, according to Nicole Phelp’s, Style.com’s runway review, were a white coat with super-graphic navy harlequin embroidery and a strapless peplum gown.
Oscar de la Renta Resort 2009 Collection
Both Hillary Clinton’s tropical mango pantsuit and Cindy McCain’s buttercup-colored outfit brought some sunshine to their respective party conventions. These colors featured in many of Oscar de la Renta’s Resort 2009 designs, for classy suits safari-style pantsuits, classically-styles skirt suits and fluid pants. According to Style.com’s runway review, Oscar de la Renta himself described his resort wear as a “very happy collection.”
