The Future of Oscar de la Renta: 3 Years Later

By Sofia Weddle

     As one of the great fashion legends, Oscar de la Renta’s reputation lives on past his death. Known for his stunning, feminine gowns, Oscar de la Renta transformed his company into a household name that every woman yearns to wear. After his death nearly three years ago on October 20th, 2014, much of the mourning fashion community wondered how the Oscar de la Renta trademark would evolve on the runway. Now, during the Spring 2018 Ready-To-Wear New York Fashion Week (NYFW), the brand’s advancing path has been carved.

     As Oscar de la Renta focused on providing breathtaking, decorative, and chic womenswear, the NYFW crowd was rightfully in awe by the company’s most recent line. Many fans of the brand, such as local Instagram fashion blogger, Glenelg Junior Delaney Smith*, believe that “Oscar de la Renta’s work has a really impressive range. The elegance and beauty of his gowns combined with the unique patterns and textures he utilized create amazing dresses”. The increasingly modern and colorful take on these elegant themes is a result of the recent promotions of Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim as the fashion brand’s newest creative directors, according to Vogue journalist Nicole Phelps. However, their first showcase this past February was not as successful as hoped and was criticized by fashion journalists, such as WWD writer Bridget Foley, for being “old-fashioned” and full of “disparate elements [that] lacked focus”. 

     Naturally, the two designers bounced back and brought forth an entirely innovative 2018 spring line. Chock full of casual denim, brightly colored blazers, professional palazzo pants, Oscar de la Renta-signed garb, dazzling sparkles, and flowing tulle, Garcia and Kim made an unequivocal statement. Regardless of any criticisms of the clothes, there can be no doubt that Oscar de la Renta has a hopeful track for the future. The spring collection showcases a newfound confidence bold enough to scribe Oscar de la Renta’s signature over dresses, coats, jumpsuits, and bodysuits. Bold enough to make high leg cuts and low necklines. Bold enough to place models in nothing but a leotard and a lengthy coat. Bold enough to make sparkles look like paint splatters or a never-ending night sky.

     Despite these beneficial fashion strives taken by Garcia and Kim, there still remains much brand and clothing development to be completed by the power duo. Like many reestablished fashion companies, the work never ceases but the clothes continue to advance, and Oscar de la Renta is no exception. Although the brand is experiencing an uncertain area in their clothing design, their newest runway show represents the beginning of a revolutionized brand; the fashion world just has to be patient.