Daily Front Row

2008 May 14

Oscar de la Renta - Resort 2009

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Oscar de la Renta Resort 2009
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(NEW YORK) “You always want to make something that women will instantly fall in love with,” Oscar de la Renta said as he calmly greeted guests and friends prior to the start of his Resort 2009 show. Twenty four minutes later, he captivated nearly every single one of them with his vivid, uplifting, and confident showcase of silk separates and lavish organza gowns.

Set against a carefully constructed background of spring’s blooming trees, the show’s pieces were most certainly designed to pop against a calm pastel background. There seemed to be a piece for an opulent time in every destination: suits for an South American equestrian journey, phoenix print dresses perfect for Mediterranean private boat cocktails, black ribbon dresses that Holly Golightly contemporaries everywhere would wear for a chic dinners at Le Grenouille, and Caribbean blouses that belong in any place on the planet with a warm thermometer. A great number of looks were paired with enviable accessories like easy gold leather sandals, python clutches, and white patent belts.

Of course, a welcome buffet of radiant colors was on display in the 66 offerings: emeralds, enticing corals, lovely eggshells, beautifully reproduced turquoise tones, and clean whites. And that’s the way the designer likes it. “I’m obviously from the Caribbean, so I’ve really wanted to express the lush color this season,” noted de la Renta following the show. “It’s resort, and everyone is in the mood for some bright energy.” And what else puts Oscar in a great mood?  “With today’s market, there’s always a demand for new: new looks, new merchandise, new inspirations,” explained designer. “So, this collection is essentially larger and conceived to really reach tremendous amounts of markets in more than 500 locations worldwide. For example, our partner for a new store in Moscow is pregnant and couldn’t be here. But half an hour later, she’ll see the collection on YouTube and order more than $1 million worth of the business! And that’s always nice.”