MFAH Presents…The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta for Pierre Balmain, Evening Dress, fall/winter 1999 – 2000, silk velvet, silk embroidery, and silk appliqué. © Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

 Editor’s Note:  It’s Roz here and as many of you know I am working for bpptours in Italy for a few weeks and was unable to be part of all of the Oscar de la Renta festivities.  Such a fan I have been forever of this magnificently talented man and so appreciate his impact on all aspects of fashion, it has been very difficult for me to watch from afar.  I have been assured a private MFAH tour on my return and can hardly wait as it looks amazing!  The following is Heather’s recap of the Press Preview that she was able to attend for MyRedGlasses……such beauty and elegance abound!!!

Heather here  I had the pleasure of attending a preview tour of the exhibit and feel truly privileged to be able to have a first-hand look.  What an iconic exhibit this has become for the MFAH!  Oscar truly was a visionary in color and pushed style limits to new heights.  His vision comes alive thanks to the amazing creative efforts of André Leon Talley, former American editor-at-large for Vogue magazine and lifelong friend of the designer, in collaboration with Cindi Strauss, Sara and Bill Morgan Curator of Decorative Arts, Craft and Design at theMFAH, with assistance by fashion historians Molly Sorkin and Jennifer Park.

Shareif Ziyadat, André Leon Talley and Oscar de la Renta at Book Signing, Rizzoli Books, New York, July 2005. © Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images

Collection Overview (courtesy of MFAH.com)

The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta celebrates the illustrious life and career of the renowned fashion designer. The exhibition showcases nearly 70 ensembles sourced from de la Renta’s corporate and personal archives; the archives of French label Pierre Balmain; private lenders; and the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Throughout his award-winning career, which spanned more than five decades and two continents, de la Renta (1932–2014) designed beautiful clothes for every occasion in a woman’s life. The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta highlights recurring themes, including the impact of Spain, Russia, China, Japan, and the garden on his designs. Displayed along with paintings and decorative arts from the MFAH collections, the creations offer a window into de la Renta’s world through a range of looks, from elegant daywear to resplendent evening gowns.

Spain

The exhibition opens with a look into one of the most significant influences on de la Renta’s oeuvre: Spain, the country where he launched his career. After arriving in Madrid, in 1951, de la Renta was hired by the legendary couturier Cristobal Balenciaga, who was similarly inspired by the spectacle and pageantry of Spanish culture. De la Renta’s experience of Spanish artists, bullfights, flamenco dance, and festive celebrations informed the silhouettes, ornamentation, and palette of his collections, showcased in this section by ensembles featuring elaborate tassels, embroidery, and cascading ruffles.

The East

The next section explores the influence of the geographical region spanning the Middle East to the Far East — includingRussia, North Africa, and Turkey — on de la Renta’s designs. Some of dela Renta’s most romantic collections were created with this region in mind, represented here by silk ensembles, caftans, and harem pants, alongside Russian – inspired garments with luxurious furs, ornate textiles, and jeweled appliqué.

Gardens

Another of de la Renta’s lifelong passions was the garden, as explored in this next section. De la Renta cultivated an interest in all things horticultural from a young age on the grounds of his childhood home in the Dominican Republic, and later in life, through the formal gardens of his Connecticut residence. Vibrant colors, delicately applied flowers, floral – printed silk taffetas, and full skirts evoking petals in bloom reflect the infusion of botanical themes throughout his work. De la Renta was also inspired by the 18th – century silhouettes, patterns, and colors worn by Queen of France Marie – Antoinette as reflected in the daywear and gowns on display.

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Amal Clooney’s Wedding Gown designed by Oscar de la Renta in 2014

For decades, women around the world have chosen de la Renta’s designs for their most celebrated and cherished occasions, from presidential dinners and award shows to weddings and fundraising galas. The exhibition culminates in a display of de la Renta’s technical mastery of dressmaking, fully demonstrated by ready – to – wear and custom couture creations alike. Viewers can see gowns once worn by dignitaries, celebrities, and philanthropists, including Penelope Cruz, Kirsten Dunst, Karlie Kloss, Laura Bush, Lynn Wyatt and one of his most famous final pieces, the wedding gown of Amal Clooney for her 2014 wedding in Venezia, Italy.

Not to be forgotten…The MFA Shop has also stocked up all things Oscar.  Chris Goins, curator of the store, has teamed up with Marci Rosenberg and MRS Couture to bring in collection of vintage accessories including jewelry, hats, handbags and more.

The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta will be open to the public October 8th until January, 28th.  This is a must see art and fashion collection!

In closing, it should be noted that…you probably didn’t know that a team of 30+ people weathered Hurricane Harvey at the Museum Of Fine Arts Houston.  Working in 18 hour shifts and sleeping on air mattress  this team shored up the perimeter with sandbags, moved art away from windows, covered unmovable statues with plastic tarps and constantly monitored the floodgates and were responsible for saving 65,000 paintings, sculptures and other objects

To those Museum First Responders we say:  Thank you!Thank you! Thank you! Without your efforts we would might not have been able to enjoy the magnificent Oscar de la Renta exhibit. A must see in Houston that will be spoken of joyfully for decades to come!