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Designer of Interest- Oscar De La Renta.
With a name like Óscar Arístides Ortiz de la Renta Fiallo, you know there has to be more than one creative bone in this 82 year old’s body! born July 22 1932 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to a Dominican mother with Spanish and Italian heritage, Carmen María Antonia Fiallo and a Puerto Rican father, Óscar Avelino de la Renta, by birth alone, Oscar was already destined to be big- The Fiallos were so embedded in Dominican society that they could count poets, scholars, and businessmen as well as top army brass as a part of their family.One of María Antonia’s brothers, Arístides Fiallo Cabral, was an intellectual – a doctor, lawyer, architect, and recipient of every degree the University of Santo Domingo could confer. Another brother, Fabio Fiallo, was a diplomat and poet. On his father’s side, De la Renta’s great great grandfather José Ortiz de la Renta was the first constitutional mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico to be elected by popular vote… like I said, big!
Oscar de la Renta at his fashion show at Neiman Marcus
At the age of 18, Oscar left the Dominican Republic to study Painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, Spain. He quickly became interested in the world of fashion design and began sketching for leading Spanish fashion houses, which soon led to an apprenticeship with Spain’s most renowned couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga. He considers Balenciaga his mentor. Later, de la Renta left Spain to join Antonio del Castillo as a couture assistant at Lanvin in Paris.
Oscar at Lanvins’.
In 1963, de la Renta turned to Diana Vreeland, the editor-in-chief of Vogue for advice, saying that what he really wanted was to “get into ready to wear, because that’s where the money is”. Vreeland replied, “Then go to Arden because you will make your reputation faster. She is not a designer, so she will promote you. At the other place, you will always be eclipsed by the name of Dior.”
De la Renta went on to work for Arden for two years and then in 1965 went to work for Jane Derby and launched his own label.When Derby died in August 1965 Oscar de la Renta took over the label.
In 1967 and 1968, de la Renta won the Coty Award (the US fashion industry ‘Oscars’) and in 1973 was inducted into the Coty Hall of Fame. He is also a two-time winner of the American Fashion Critic’s Award and was inducted into the Fame in 1973. He has been honored with multiple awards from the United States, Spain, France and his home Dominican Republic. He has built schools, an orphanage, serves in the board of multiple bodies,charities and organizations. He holds dual citizenship in the Dominican Republic and the United States.
In 1967, de Renta became the third husband of Françoise de Langlade (1921–1983),an editor-in-chief of French Vogue who once worked for the fashion house of Elsa Schiaparelli. They remained married until her death in 1983. In 1989, the designer married Annette Engelhard (born 1939), daughter of Charles and Jane Engelhard. De la Renta has stepchildren from both marriages.
Oscar with Annette.
He also has an adopted son, Moises de la Renta.His son-in-law Alex Bolen now operates as Chief Executive Officer, and step-daughter Eliza Bolen serves as Vice President of Licensing at Oscar de la Renta, LLC.
oscar with family l-r Alex Bolen, Eliza Bolen, Oscar n Moises
Oscar-de-la-Renta and adopted son Moises.
From 1993 to 2002, Oscar de la Renta designed the haute couture collection for the house of Balmain, becoming the first Dominican to design for a French couture house. In 2006, the Oscar de la Renta label diversified into bridal wear.
A few of Oscar de la Renta’s Bridal Collection 2015:
The Oscar de la Renta brand saw international wholesale growth beginning in 2003, under the direction of CEO Alex Bolen, from five to seventy-five locations. De la Renta’s ready-to-wear designs are available in his retail stores, online, and with select wholesale partners worldwide.
In 1977, de la Renta launched his fragrance, OSCAR,followed by an accessories line in 2001 and a housewares line in 2002. The new business venture included 100 home furnishings for Century Furniture featuring dining tables, upholstered chairs, and couches. In 2004, he added a less expensive line of clothing called O Oscar. De la Renta said he wanted to attract new customers whom he could not reach before.
”A woman makes an outfit her own with accessories…” Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta has had the distinct honor of having his designs worn by a diverse group of distinguished women and celebrities, his eponymous fashion house continues to dress leading figures, from film stars to royalty. De la Renta is particularly known for his red carpet gowns and evening wear. His designs are easy on the eyes, lady like, classy and sophisticated. He creates the look for a woman who embraces power yet is confident enough to show her feminine side, oh yes, that’s how I’d describe myself!
Oscar de la Renta designed for first lady Laura Bush
“Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” Costume Institute Gala with Penelope Cruz
Michelle Obama wearing Oscar Moises de-la-Renta for the Presidential Medal-of-Freedom.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2009 – Oscar De La Renta with Jennifer Lopez
Oscar with Sarah Jessica Parker
Actress Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta, Fall-2010 strapless-gown
Hillary Clinton
Kerry Washington in an Oscar de la Renta strapless gown.
De la Renta with Alexander Wang
… every one loves Oscar de la Renta! don’t you? I know I do and not only would it be awesome being photographed in his beautiful pieces or even wearing them, it would be nice to have a chat no?
Anyway, In February 2014, Oscar de la Renta recreated his entire Spring presentation, Designed for A Cure 2014 collection, to raise money for the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
His Spring 2015 Collection which was just shown a few days back, could only be described in three words- Spring, Tulips and Lace! The bold but all feminine colors,from pastels in blue and pink, to black and white combos, white and Ivory to bold orange! Carefully crafted embroidery, sequins, scalloping, eyelets and feathery details are all customary to the label as you see again and again the simple but carefully made dresses and separates in delicate fabrics of soft organza, lace , faille and tulle:
Well done and well accomplished! needless to say, I’m a huge fan! always have been and always will be. Oscar does deserve a place in my hall of fame and that is why he is my designer of interest!
Hugs :))
Molekor
Source: Wikipedia.com , http://www.oscardelarenta.com, nymag.com, nytimes.com
My Verche Story…
Hello my very stylish readers, I do hope you’re enjoying these posts on accessories, particularly statement jewelry because i’m having a blast! After this you should not have any reasons not to stand out at work or at any event for that matter!
Today it’s about me… well to an extent and I very well deserve it don’t I? I mean talking about these beautiful pieces should have made you wonder what it’s doing to me right? what can I show off from my wardrobe? is there a place for the simple minimalist like me?… what’s my story?
So here they are, my Verche pieces, courtesy of Verche L’Art cessoire for moi! I obviously had fun with these pictures and you must know I took these photos last night! Thanks to my friends Ayo and Nnete Oladiran who I pulled out of their routine to take these 100 photos a second pictures!!!! It was an eventful evening but worth it hey? I absolutely love these jewelry pieces- Simple, versatile and yes, quite L’ Art cessoire!!!
This is really versatile. You could wear the necklace and earrings with jeans and simple clothing, for a quick trip out of the house but not wanting to lose your stylish touch if you know what i mean ;).
This looped set below looks good with dresses also and against the black, it’s hard to miss. I like the size and length and I just can’t begin to tell you all the outfits I’ll be wearing these with!
Ahh the Emerald/Pine and Silver! This was definitely my favorite! see how the contrast works against my skin tone? priceless!
I did get a bit carried away as you may have noticed but was quickly drawn back… no drifting here!
What a fun week I’ve had with the team at Verche L’Art cessoire and of course Madam Verche. If you haven’t had the time to visit the store online or in Abuja if you live around, please do and let me know your thoughts. Also, remember to ask for their new pieces which you will be seeing first off below.
More importantly though, there’s a two-week wallet relief for your shopping experience as she will be giving 10% off products for you, my awesome stylistas and for those who want to push to a 20% off (who wouldn’t ?!) drop by the store and answer a fun question which will get you that double score!!! be sure to give up this code also: VERCHE526.
Now for the new pieces:
You like? lots of rubies, emeralds, pearls and all things nice!
So what do you think? hot? or hmm…
Hugs :))
Molekor
How to Combine Colors in Your Wardrobe.
Combining colors is a science! …but something that can be learned. You see a man or woman putting together an outfit that stands out not because of the fit and fabric but because of the really catchy combination of colors and you’re wondering how they did it.
Well, you know it’s my job to hook you up with information that will help you step up your title as a ‘Stylista’ and if you want more information, do not forget you could always email or call me up if you live in Abuja or Nigeria to do a more intense color analysis for you and your wardrobe.
A Personal Color Analysis is a complete check of a person’s color season (Deep/Light/Medium Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer), what colors on the color wheel (remember the color wheel from arts class? yes, one and only) best suit that person’s skin color and how to match colors in this color season to produce outfits that agree with that color season.
Notice how you dress up sometimes and people ask you if you’re ok? ill? well, if you really are not ill, then it’s because the colors do not go with your skin tone and has either ended up making your skin look dull or sickly. Sometimes you go out and everyone comments on how great you look and how you look good in that color? yes, that’s one of your season’s color. Much as these are all required in choosing an appropriate wardrobe for yourself, it is far from realistic to follow this strictly as you as well know that there are colors you like that may not agree with your season’s colors and you definitely will not stop wearing them. What you do then is learn to combine these colors in ways that still make you look good or in tones that bring out your good side.
So let’s not get confused or in my case confusing, i’ll just give you a few guides to knowing how to mix and match colors OK?
First we have to know that in dressing, we have neutral colors which we can combine with most of these colors on the color wheel. They are black, white, grey, dark brown and dark blue. For men however, be careful because with a blue suit for instance, there are some colors that just won’t go so for the more flattering contrasts and accents, try orange based tones but for harmony, pick colors in the same color family.
The Color Wheel
It’s really about how you see colors and what colors are can be pleasing to the eyes when combined. You need to know the primary, secondary and tertiary colors. we use these colors everyday but going further, you need to consider that these colors have Value (the lightness or darkness of a color, this is what makes sky blue different from navy or dark blue), Hues (red, blue etc, basically the color, the colors in the color wheel are made of hues and in different temperatures- warm as in red, orange, yellow or cool as in blue, blue-violet and purple.) and the Chroma (the purity of the color- clarity, intensity, brightness or dullness of a hue e.g yellow and mustard or lemon.)
With these you can create a color scheme( a mix of colors in hue, value and chroma) that makes it pleasing to the eyes, interesting and varied:
Achromatic (Black, white and grey)
Monochromatic (colors from one hue adding black, white or grey or other colors creating a safe but harmonious effect.)
Complementary (combining colors opposite each other on the color wheel giving you a bold contrasting feel to your outfits.) e.g red and green, blue and orange or yellow etc. Complementary colors have the same components of the 3 primary colors which in effect bring equilibrium to the eyes because the primary colors are a natural complementary color combination but because they have a tendency to be too intense to the eyes, I would recommend you use intermediate colors like red- orange and blue- green.
To create a more sophisticated palette, use complementary colors in darker hues also like mustard and violet or cobalt blue and burnt orange (see my styling examples below):
Combined Harmonious (using complementary colors and then livening them up with accents- Accents are highlights in small quantities with a high purity of color often complementary to the main color; to create an exciting effect).
For men, accents can appear in choice places like:
- Neckties are the most common accent for men. They look best when they are either from a similar color family as the shirt beneath them (lavender tie over a light blue shirt, for example) or a complementary color for contrast (such as a burgundy tie over a white-and-green striped shirt).
- Pocket squares are like neckties in terms of decorative function, but are far less widely used. Include one in your outfits to add a bit of stylish flash. They should pair with the suit jacket or sport coat in much the same way that the necktie pairs with the shirt: either joining it in a similar color scheme or contrasting with it in a complementary fashion. When wearing both, be aware that the necktie and the pocket square should never match — they are two separate accents!
- Jewelry should generally be understated on a man. The basic rule of thumb is to keep all the metals matching: either gold tones or silver, never both. Watches, rings, cufflinks, and earrings if you wear one all fall under the rule. The only exception is a wedding band, which can be worn with anything — its significance is recognized to be set apart from the rules of fashion. If you do happen to wear colored jewelry (unusual on a man), be sure that the colored stone/glass either contrasts or mimics the colors of the larger outfit in the same way as the other accents.
- Briefcases and other bags are rarely a perfect match (unless you happen to have the money for a matching bag with each suit and shirt). Most men find it easiest to own a black bag and a brown bag and match the bag to their shoes and belt. Blue-tone canvases do well with brown leather, more neutral bases go best with black, and brighter colors may go with one or the other depending on where they fall on the color wheel.
- Glasses can be particularly frustrating if you need to wear them daily and only own one set of frames. Any kind of distinct color will be a jarring note in outfits that don’t go well with that particular color. Try to stick to narrow frames with a muted metallic or black color if you’re planning on wearing your glasses with all of your outfits.
Analog/Harmonious (colors that lie side by side on the color wheel. You can see them everywhere in nature- green and yellow plants, red and yellow sun etc. They come from a common hue when mixed in the color wheel.
Triad (3 colors on the color wheel that are equal distances from each other but balances the eyes)
Not all your outfits will follow the color wheel relationships rigidly. Worry not if they don’t, instead look for combinations that you feel comfortable in, using the color wheel schemes as a very basic guideline. Personally I prefer to do 3 colors at most a time, nothing more but know that a splash of difference here or there is what makes the outfit yours. A basic understanding of the color wheel is just a tool to get you started. And hopefully I’ve helped out with that!
Remember, if you want a personal consult, send an email OK?
hugs :))
Molekor
Credits:www.realmenrealstyle.com, colorsontheweb.com, tigercolors.com
5 Top Fashion Mistakes Men Make.
Hello my ever faithful stylish readers. Having a lovely day? well guys, today we take the top 5 fashion faux pas a few of you carry out on a daily basis.
I’ve said it before that dressing up as a male in these fashion times is not as easy as it used to be but it is definitely more interesting and fun! There are more options to choose from as compared to the classic blue, black, grey and dark blue of old! There are newer rules to follow and if you want to be taken seriously in the corporate or social world, while you are allowed to, hey, even advised to break all the rules if you are an entertainer of some sort, in the real world where 95% of us still live, looking sane is still expected. I’ve said it before (I seem to be recalling a lot of stuff I’ve said before…age?) that a person is not necessarily stylish because they wear expensive clothes, they are stylish because of their ability to mix and match outfits and put specific colors together and if a man can do that for himself or invariably find someone who can do that for him, he is on his way to super- styledom!
So let’s get to it, you may not be the man down the street who wears his socks and sandals every day past your house, or the guy next door with his square toe shoes in his short-sleeved shirt and tie, but let’s see how far you’ve gone to keep your look fresh and stylish … and oh, if you score two out five of these, then you already are on the fashion faux pas trail!
1. Over sized Suits: Or over sized anything for that matter! wearing clothes that do not fit you in any way does not say anything positive no matter what you may think! keep it just right- not too loose and not tight no matter how much you want to show off that nicely toned body of yours, wearing clothes that are just right does much more for you than tight clothes will ever do, take it from me. If however you hardly find your fit off the rack, then find a good tailor and keep him on speed dial!
2. Bad trouser breaks: This is one mistake men very often make. We get that cuffs on chinos and khakis is an ongoing fad we are not sure we want to see for too long but the normal length you should aim for in your trousers, chinos or khakis should be a slight or quarter break that ends at the top or at most, the middle of your back heel giving you a slight fold in front also. Too short and they tend to look undersized and too long will give you puddles that make you look just bad!
3. Not matching your trousers, shoes or socks properly: The rule is to match your socks with your trousers and not with your shoes! The reason it’s important to match socks with your pants is that when you have to take your shoes off or sit down and your socks are exposed, socks that coordinate with your pants make your outfit appear more fluid. On the other hand, socks that don’t match your pants will break up an otherwise awesome ensemble.
Find the socks color that best matches the shade of your trousers for example, black socks should go with black trousers, brown socks with brown trousers.and if you’re going for a monochromatic look, your shoes also; For other trouser colors, choose carefully but when in doubt, a darker color in a close shade will do. Note that sporty white socks will only go with sporty shoes, nothing else! sorry but I had to make that bold for the style rebels to see 😉 . Also make sure you wear your dress socks with dress trousers not sporty socks. When not dressed formally though, you could mix trendy colors and show off your ability to match colors but be careful when you are trying to pull off this look.
Matching your shoes and pants should be pretty easy- black shoes go with black pants, never brown and vice versa. For other color shoes and pants to match, you could check out http://www.thefineyounggentleman.com/pants/what-color-shoes-to-wear-with-what-color-pants/, so here’s a little tip, invest in a pair of dark blue shoes and socks as well as your black and brown.
blog. threads.com
Shoe combinations- Fashionbeans.com: Blue trousers = Brown or Black shoes. Grey Trousers= Brown or Black Shoes. Brown Trousers= Brown Shoes. Black Trousers= Black Shoes
4. A fat Wallet: And I don’t mean it in a good way (being able to pay for pricey stuff). A fat wallet is a wallet stuffed with needless business cards, old receipts and other things you have no business carrying about but do anyway. When you stuff all that in your wallet, it becomes a burden in your trousers for everyone to see! Here are the cons of having a fat wallet in your back pockets: it’s unsightly, it puts a dent to your smooth suave look, sitting on it will give you back ache and do you really need to carry all those business cards and old receipts around?? so let’s see, what are the pros? None!
5. Wearing the wrong belt color:Dress shoes should go with dress belts and casual shoes with casual belts.
Added to that, you could match the strap of your watch if it’s leather to your belt if you really want to go all the way, but as a rule of thumb, the tone of your watch strap (not as necessary in my opinion) , your belt and shoes should be the same for formal wear and for smart casual, they should generally be in the same color family and tone as long as it’s not too far off, same goes for texture and shine. If you are dressing down though, you could do something in the same color family but not match- match like chestnut and chocolate or burnt orange and chestnut.
…And other things: A man’s jewelry should be his wristwatch, wedding ring and cuff links only especially for formal attire but unless he’s a rap or rock star, a simple bracelet could be added for casual clothes.
And you know we have to talk about the tie: The size of the tie is really up to you skinny or normal but the length must be long enough so that the tip barely touches the top of your belt buckle…yes Idris Elba! …and finally,If you’re dressed formally, a backpack laptop bag or carrier looks juvenile as against a sling bag which looks mature and appropriate.
So how did you score? no worries, our aim is to make you more stylish so yes, pressure!
Later,
Hugs,
Molekor
Photos: pinterest.com, askmen.com, justdapper.com, fashionbeans.com , GQ and Google images.
Stylish Ways To Wear Black.
Hey Stylish readers, This post goes to say one thing- Orange may be the new black this season, but everyone needs a ‘Staple in the wardrobe, no color’ color that takes you in and out of season and that color definitely has to be black!
Although black could be elegant, classy, easy to wear and slimming, for men it looks just as good, ageless and suave to say the very least! but it can very well be very boring and hard to pull off on a regular basis. That is why I would like to show you ways to style this color without looking mournful or repetitive. So here are a few rules to follow:
Rule Number 1: Mix Textures
Fur, Leather, Cotton, Wool, Satin, Silk, suede all come out looking very classy when they are all in black. Want to look edgy but not too out there? try mixing these textures and fabrics- smooth satin with soft suede, leather with fluffy fur or something sheer.
Fashion Vibe
Givenchy Fall 2014
Saint Laurent 2014
Genevieve Nnaji in Jewel By lisa
Some designers take the liberty of mixing these various textures for us but you could go the extra mile and add something to your look…which brings us to rule number two:
Rule Number 2: Accessorize.
Accessories as you already know, is your best friend for a stylish wardrobe and a must for you to pull off this look on a regular basis. Get those bold necklaces working and a pop of bold colors on your hand bags, belts and shoes should speak volumes. Even neutrals like white, gold and Camel are not only ‘ trés chic’ but timeless. If you’re a guy, make sure your shoes, tie and belt tells the story in a good way…
RMD
Flavour-Nabania
Louis Vuitton AW 2014-15
Michael Kovac- Getty Images for Elle
Nicole Richie. Photo: Stephanie Keenan/Wire Image
Fendi SS 2015
Kourtney Kardashian with neon accessories in a little black dress
That orange jacket is so trendy and stylish! Stockholmstreetstyle.com
Rule Number 3: Fit
We know black is slimming but nothing else can also exaggerate your look for the worse! Make sure your outfit fits your body in every way especially if you are wearing leather or satin or any other fabric that shines.
Jennifer Aniston in Alexander McQueen
Lanvin Fall runway
Versus Split Scuba Jersey Skirt- $345
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen
Rule Number 4: Your Make Up
Black agrees with all skin tones but let’s not push it by letting you go out bare faced! your make up is very important for the classy look as it also adds contrast to this basic and changes a look from day to night. A pop of Orange (I had to go there ;)) or pink lipstick will make you look oh-so-trendy and summer-y and red lipstick will definitely bring on all the elegance you need!
So style yourself happy this holiday and remember to wear the appropriate fabric for the weather, wool,fur and heavy fabrics should be worn when its cold and you need a weather-friendly but trendy outfit and when it’s hot and breezy, cotton, linen,satin and any other lighter breathable fabrics will keep you going!
With these rules on hand, your black on black style should be second to none! I want Feedbacks OK?
Hugs
Molekor
Source: WhoWhatWear.com, Huffingtonpost.com
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