I was up at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco today to catch the Oscar de la Renta exhibit. I have loved pretty clothing my whole life and Oscar was the maestro of all things beautiful. I’ve dreamed of wearing his dresses. This show is big and beautiful and wonderfully curated by Andre Leon Talley of Vogue. The 130 ensembles are stunning. Many come from the archives of Oscar’s fashion house and others are lent by his longtime friends and devotees like Lynn Wyatt and Anna Wintour. There are dresses worn by First Ladies Nancy Regan, Laura Bush and Hilary Clinton as well as celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Amy Adams.
This exhibit is grouped by Oscar’s many different influences- Dr Zhivago, the Far East, Spain, and the garden. You’ll see his Red Carpet creations, along with video. The garden room is my particular favorite with images of the garden of his Connecticut home along with some of the most wearable and beautiful striped confections. There are dresses that transcend time -looking as wearable today as they were in the 1960’s. I loved his slinky dresses from the famous ‘Battle of Versailles,’ fashion showdown in 1970’s as I did a Marie Antoinette inspired frock crafted for Kristen Dunst to wear in Vogue. There was so much to take in. The beauty was in the fantastic details. Oscar knew what all women wanted was to look beautiful and how could one not wearing any of these works of art?
Some of my favorites from this show…
The museum shop is selling a terrific book on the exhibit. I bought this huge and beautiful book on the exhibit and a postcard. More from the special Oscar shop here.
The shop had some fun bags, books and even a coloring book I wish I bought now!
Oscar’s homeware line is quite nice.
Look at this fab wallpaper!
With my friends who made this possible Jeanne and Barb and Oscar…
A true gentleman and a brilliant artist.
More info about the de Young and this show here.
