| Title | : | Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0847847179 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780847847174 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 176 |
| Publication | : | First published September 8, 2015 |
In this intimate volume, longtime editor and friend André Leon Talley recounts de la Renta’s journey through nearly 70 iconic dresses, mainly made for private clients, accompanied by fascinating stories of the exquisite craftsmanship and the legendary friends that brought each gown to life. Born in the Dominican Republic in 1932, de la Renta left for Madrid at nineteen to study art, where he rose to prominence as a sketch artist for newspapers and fashion houses. From his apprenticeship under Cristóbal Balenciaga to his eponymous collections, the designer’s simple lines elevated with a flamenco dancer’s flourish reflect his deep connection to his roots and his commitment to transcendence through beautiful garments.
Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style Reviews
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I took my then six year old and another friend and her daughter to the Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style exhibit at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Both the girls, my friend, and I were really taken by the artistry of Mr. De la Renta's creations, the history of the clothing, the craftsmanship, and the attention to detail. My daughter actually requested this coffee table book for Christmas which I thought was a hoot and my mother bought it for her. It is really a beautiful book, but what is more beautiful seems to be of the character of the man who made these clothes. Born in the Dominican Republic in 1932, he left home at 19 to study art in Madrid. Later he worked at Balenciaga, Lanvin, and Elizabeth Arden before beginning his own company. He has dressed a number of First Ladies, celebrities, and anyone else who I suppose could afford it. From everything that I have read it seems that although he was friends with and dressed high society, he never lost touch with his roots. That even while entertaining at his home in the Dominican Republican, he stayed up late playing Dominos and entertaining the locals in his kitchen. After becoming a great success, he also became a philanthropist, personally supporting an entire orphanage in the Dominican Republic. He is described as being a true gentleman, charismatic,smart, lively, kind, generous, talented. A life force. In looking at the pictures of his home, books are every where. And I like book people.
I will never be able to afford these types of dresses and am quite fine with that...and I am not trying to turn my daughter into a materialistic person. But I do think there is something to be learned from this man of extraordinary talent. He had an eye for detail and beauty, he strived for perfection, he behaved with incredible manners, he believed in hard work. From everything I have read, he treated everyone around him with respect and made them feel like they were the only person in the room. So while this isn't literature, I did enjoy it and hope to read other books on Oscar de la Renta. -
This oversized coffee table book presents such a small portion of Mr. de la Renta's history and creations. The photography is excellent, but the author (Andre Leon Talley) turns it into an egotistical rendering of himself and a few select people or celebrities, most who few would know (even though he cites the owners of the shown garments unless they chose anonymity.) Many, of course, could only wear these beautifully made garments because their husbands could afford to pay the submitted bill. Those who could afford to pay for their dresses probably didn't, like Sarah Jessica Parker, and if you've seen what she's wearing in the latest rendering of her television show and how she looks, you wonder why she isn't investing in tweeking her own appearance. The people who looked best in his clothes, of course, didn't have an ounce of fat on their bodies. His mariage blanc wife, for example. Anna Wintour, former editor of Vogue seems too short to wear his clothes and her daughter, too fleshy. Oprah? Forget about it. I love studying the couture designs and beadwork of the most famous houses. The prettiest dresses in my opinion were the cover dress which Taylor Swift purchased and wore, and it looked lovely on her, and a heavily beaded dress with an ethnic influence that Nicole Kidman wore. I can't recall seeing one dress that had belonged to or been worn by Jacqueline Kennedy in this book. There were several shown that Laura Bush owns, and she did them proud.
Part of the problem I had with this book is that Andre Leon Talley fell into the outs with so many in the fashion world: his former employer, Vogue and it's editor, Karl Lagerfeld (a property dispute,) and many others. Lately, he's been going around badmouthing all, and it hasn't sat well with the others. Some of that defensiveness is coming through in his writing: making sure the reader understands just how important a role he played in this world, and how much of an influence he was in the designer's creativity. Take that with a pinch of salt in old wounds.
