Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective

Oscar de la Renta’s designs celebrated the best in us — beauty, optimism, and confidence. Including more than 130 pieces produced over five decades, this world-premiere retrospective pays tribute to one of the most beloved and influential fashion icons of our time. André Leon Talley, former American editor-at-large for Vogue magazine, curates the exhibition. His depth of knowledge and lifelong friendship with de la Renta provides an unmatched perspective.

Follow the rise of Oscar’s career, first in Spain where he gained his initial commissions, through his formative years spent in many of the world’s iconic fashion houses, to his eventual role as a designer for some of the most influential and celebrated personalities of the 20th and 21st centuries. 

The garments are organized into several thematic sections: early work; Spanish, Eastern, Russian and garden influences; daywear and eveningwear; and ball gowns and red carpet ensembles. The presentation traces the rise of de la Renta’s career in Spain, where he gained his first commissions; his formative years spent in the world’s most iconic fashion houses; and his eventual role as a designer for many of the most influential and celebrated personalities of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Exhibition overview from museum website.

Whether you go or not, Oscar De La Renta features the designs that defined the fashion icon's long career, illuminating the breadth and depth of the designer's work. Luxurious color illustrations include images from his historic 1973 fashion show at Versailles, his designs worn from the red carpet to the White House by glamor icons such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Taylor Swift, state dinner-worthy creations made exclusively for Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, plus historic images from de la Renta's archives.