NYFW review: Oscar de la Renta

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NEW YORK -- Simple, elegant, timeless. Oscar de la Renta appealed to his base with his ladylike fall collection, from the slim luncheon suit in pink diamond alpaca to the vests in broadtail fur (or, for those who lost money with Madoff, quilted silk printed to look like fur), worn with stretch pants or tweed dresses. A white silk lace blouse with billowy sleeves, tucked into a slim black velvet skirt will never go out of style, nor will a sumptuous oatmeal-colored cashmere wool sweater with a geometric weave.

For evening, a gunmetal gray, rippling satin dress fit into the season’s penchant for surface effects. But mostly, there were simple taffeta or silk faille dresses in jewel tones with puffed-up skirts or sleeves, waists cinched with wide belts decorated with animal-patterned embroidery.

No surprises here except the poufy, aging socialite hair, which underscored the feeling that, the red carpet not withstanding, these are not young women’s clothes.

--Booth Moore

Photos: Behind the scenes at Fall 2009 New York Fashion Week

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