Why women wore Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta鈥檚 approach to fashion 鈥� as much as his stylistic grace 鈥� have been lauded since the designer's death on Monday.听
His customers have celebrated the icon in Instagram pictures, Tweets, and public statements on his influence. Beyond his dress鈥檚 beautiful lines and shapes, many recognized how Mr. de la Renta put his clients first.
Former White House first lady Laura Bush, whose daughter Jenna wore a wedding dress that de la Renta designed, said that her family would 鈥渁lways remember him as the man who made women look and feel beautiful.鈥澛�
The clarity of his vision about beauty was highlighted in his description of the fashion runway.
聽鈥淎 runway is spectacle. It鈥檚 only fashion when a woman puts it on. Being well dressed hasn鈥檛 much to do with having good clothes,鈥� he once said,聽.听
This client-first mentality was woven into obituaries celebrating de la Renta鈥檚 life.
Actor Jennifer Garner 聽Monday that de la Renta had the humility to listen and respect his clients wishes.听
鈥淗e always wanted women to be the star of the look. He was never trying to take over and be the boss. The sketches that he did for me at the聽Oscars last year, every single one of them he sketched my face in. It wasn鈥檛 just a sketch of some dress 鈥� 聽it was how it would be on me, specifically. I was so lucky to get to work with him and to know him even just a little bit.鈥�
To , his death meant the loss of 鈥渁 designer with that rarest gift: He understood the sweet, universal desires of women.鈥� She continued, 鈥淗e helped them look like their most romantic vision of themselves.鈥澛�
In Vogue, editor, , for which de la Renta designed the bride鈥檚 dress. After being delayed by travel complications, Ms. Wintour wrote, 鈥渉e turned up with a smile and kiss at the last minute to put the veil on Elizabeth and send her down the aisle in the dress of her dreams. Every girl鈥檚 dreams.鈥� 聽聽
He seemed to realize these dreams everywhere. And a Who's Who of celebrities have the photos and gowns to prove it.听
Singer Taylor Swift聽posted a of a聽sweeping pink de la Renta ball gown, draping down red carpet stairs.
Laura Bush wore a silver dress that shimmered as she danced with her husband in 2005 at the Inaugural Ball. She also oversaw the installation of an聽in Dallas that ran from July to October. A similar de la Renta exhibition was held at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center last year.
First lady Michelle Obama, who had not worn clothing designed by him in her first seven years in the White House, was outfitted in de la Renta at an October cocktail party. (The Times notes that for wearing foreign labels several years ago).
De la Renta's approach marked a breath of fresh air in an industry that many say is dominated by personal brands and big egos.
Recently, against the 鈥渆go problems鈥� of young designers. (Mr. Lagerfeld鈥檚 cat, notably, has two maids and has inspired handbags and a book). 鈥淭he Devil Wears Prada鈥� (2006) highlighted Wintour鈥檚 personality 鈥� which a 聽described as the 鈥渂lade behind her gaze.鈥� A Mark Jacobs ad campaign included Victoria Beckham poking out of a white bag dressed with Mr. Jacobs鈥檚 clean logo.
That鈥檚 not to say that de la Renta didn鈥檛 push boundaries, but his client-first sleek work aimed to satisfy, never to shock. In memorials and social media posts, those who remember the icon recall this piece of his life鈥檚 work.
