LOCAL Houston | The City Guide October 2017 | Page 34

ART
OSCAR SEASON
DE LA RENTA EXHIBIT DRESSES UP THE MFAH
The dramatic, exuberant, luxurious talent of the late, great designer Oscar de la Renta comes to life
this October at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Opening October 8 and continuing through January
8, 2018, The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta celebrates the illustrious life and career of
the American fashion icon.
Presented in collaboration with Oscar de la Renta, LLC, the exhibition features nearly 70 ensembles
sourced from the designer’s corporate and personal archives, the archives of French label Pierre
Balmain, private lenders and the collection of the MFAH.
The over-the-top exhibition is curated by the larger-than-life André Leon Talley, former American editor-
at-large for Vogue and lifelong friend of the designer, in collaboration with Cindi Strauss, Sara and
Bill Morgan Curator of Decorative Arts, Craft and Design at the MFAH, with assistance from fashion
historians Molly Sorkin and Jennifer Park.
In a career that spanned five decades and two continents, Oscar de la Renta set out to design beautiful
clothes for every occasion in a woman’s life. The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta highlights
recurring themes throughout his career, including the significant impact of Spain, Russia, China, Japan
and the garden on his designs. Displayed along with paintings and decorative arts from the
collection of the MFAH, the creations on view offer a window into de la Renta’s world through a
range of looks, from elegant daywear to resplendent evening gowns.
“The exquisite designs on view demonstrate Oscar de la Renta’s innate talent, and the ability of his creative vision, drawn from
rich and complex cultures around the world, to transcend well beyond the world of fashion,” commented Gary Tinterow, director of
the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. “We’re proud to partner with Oscar de la Renta, LLC, to present these extraordinary creations
this fall.”
Photography provided by Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
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L O C A L
| 10 . 2017
Oscar de la
Renta, Coat
and Dress
Ensemble, fall
1968, novelty
weave fabric,
fur, and
brilliants