StyleFiles Profile: Oscar de la Renta

Apr 26th 2009
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Oscar de la Renta is undoubtedly a household fashion name. Though he has been known as the designer of choice by “women of a certain age,” his new mass market line, O, is courting the desires of younger clientele.

There is no “it” bag from the designer as of yet, but many classic designs that would serve women for years. One minaudiere from this season’s line that captures the eye is the Mosaico here. It evokes Moroccan elegance with its intricate latticework. Made of metal and satin, it comes in three colors: avocado, (shown here), black, and poppy (red-orange).

Actually, the avocado almost evokes a psychedelic feel with the color and pattern combination (like the Beatles phase from Sgt. Pepper to The Magical Mystery Tour). Poppy is gorgeous in person, and the black is undeniably classic.

The dimensions, 6.5W” x 4H” x 1D”, will allow you to fit the essentials for an evening.  Sold for $1550, you can keep wearing this for twenty years and still be elegantly fashionable.

Oscar is not yet known for his bags, but the designer has an interesting history. Here’s an overview.

Logo: Opulent handwriting. The signature that says, “finely made by a master’s hands.”

Signature Elements:
  • Warm, rich colors like dark red
  • Patterns like florals
  • Embellishment: ruffles, fringe, sequins, embroidery
  • Sumptuous Fur
  • Fabric and treatments that engage the tactile senses: ruching and silk
The Designer: Born in the Dominican Republic by the name of Oscar Aristides Renta Fiallo of a Dominican mother and Puerto Rican father, Oscar left for Spain at 18 to study painting. He quickly switched his pursuits from painting to fashion, beginning to sketch for major fashion houses. His resume gathered impressive names: Cristobal Balenciaga in Spain, Lanvin in Paris, and Elizabeth Arden in New York. In 1965, he released his first ready-to-wear line.

Oscar still designs and retains the title of Chairman. In 2004, he handed the title of Excecutive in Chief to his son-in-law, Alex Bolen.

Further reading: http://www.oscardelarenta.com.


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