Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta was the only designer to recognize the date, 9/11. In his program notes, he wrote that “over forty years ago, I arrived with an immigrant's dream of the land of freedom and opportunity. I have not for a minute been disappointed. Five years ago today, as I was preparing for the opening of the spring show, tragedy struck us all. Today we honor the memory of those who died." The dashing and popular designer also used the day to show off a brand new look when he took his bow at the end of the show (bald). He still looks great!
The well balanced and youthful collection that ran the gamut from day to evening, printed to solid, colorful to neutral (with just enough black and navy) focused on wonderful short dresses (shifts, chemises, sundresses, empire waist) and volume (as in bouffant skirts). It was very consistent with Oscar’s signature point of view and aesthetic and what one would expect to see for spring. What was interesting was that Oscar began the show with flats (pancake flat pointy toe patent leather shoes) which added a youthful feeling of ease. But in addition to short printed matelasse dresses, there were sportswear inspired polos, lots of wonderfully textural hand knits (like the Himalayan blue poppy cotton cabled sweater worn with a printed matelasse skirt, and the white cotton fisherman style cardigan worn with a white bikini). And there were open work crochets (a standout was the ecru and navy crochet short flyaway tunic top worn over a matching bikini) as well as raffia which was used to form the bases of a new suit
For evening, Oscar continued his love affair with short full taffeta dresses (like the red strapless version with a bow on the bodice and the black taffeta and Chantilly lace short dress that was off the shoulder and had a voluminous bubble skirt.
But to Oscar's credit, perhaps the most beautiful dress was the simplest: the navy silk sponge crepe long narrow gown that boasted an arresting, modified bubble back.
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