Oscar De La Renta “His Legendary World of Style” @ SCADMuseum of Art

This past week I visited Savannah College of Art and Design, my alma mater. Much has changed at SCAD including the addition of the Museum of Art which currently houses the first posthumous Oscar de la Renta tribute exhibition.  The show was curated by SCAD trustee and Vogue ‘editor at large’ Andre Leon Talley. On display until May 3rd, an expansion of this exhibit will be shown in San Francisco’s de Young Museum from February 27 to May 30, 2016.

 

The show honors the designer’s deep bond and relationship with his clients, his closest friends, and family. His love of the arts, gardening and music guided his philanthropy to SCAD years ago. I remember the fashion department receiving a huge donation of fabrics from ODLR my freshman year. I liked to go in the room where they were housed and dream of the things he had cut and the things we would cut from the very same cloth.

 

 

There are several editorial moments I remember in the past years as I’ve pulled swipes for my mood boards. Such as this glorious moment with Kirsten Dunst in September 2006. In fact, I still have that magazine on my shelf, I bought two that month, one to tear up and one to keep. It was about the film Marie Antoinette which was just visually stunning.

 

Who can forget Oprah in this dress?

 

 …or a 2010 moment, Huma Abedin’s wedding dress. ODLR designed for her based on a family heirloom choker from her grandmother.

 

…and the 2014 moment at the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” Met Gala. Ivanka Trump‘s silk brocade evening dress in a glorious shade of green.

 

Taylor Swift beautifully draped and embroidered at the same gala.

 

…and of course, the Sarah Jessica Parker moment.

 

 In 2010 Miranda Brooks held a beautiful outdoor wedding in this romantic confection of ruffles.

 

Oscar de la Renta brought class, elegance and even fun to the lifetime moments of his friends and loved ones.

 

 

Elizabeth Cordry Shaffer says of her wedding, ” Oscar spent a few minutes with me before I went down the aisle. It was so incredibly special to have him there with us.”

   

 It’s true that Oscar de la Renta was a warm and welcome light in the lives of those he knew. He was also an advocate for hundreds of students he never knew through SCAD. Andre Leon Talley gave Oscar de la Renta the very first  SCAD Life Time Achievement Award in 2001.

I was a student at the time studying fashion, illustration and sequential art. I design women’s wear and dresses with the mantra that every moment is an occasion to dress for. SCAD, Andre Leon Talley, de la Renta and a slew of other advocates (famous/not famous) give students the means to their vision. It was an ideal place to learn and grow as an artist/designer because so many talented people take a moment to give back and leave something great behind.