San Francisco welcomes the first ever Oscar De La Renta Retrospective at the de Young Museum curated by none other than Mr. De La Renta’s good friend, former Editor-at-large of Vogue, André Leon Talley. With a careful selection of enthralling pieces pulled from both archives and friends’ collections spanning over a period of more than five decades, this is an exhibit for the ages!

Just two months before his passing, Mr. De La Renta gave his permission to Diane B. Wilsey, President of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, to have a retrospective of his work in San Francisco, which is why we are lucky enough to be the first city to witness this impressive and enchanting collection.

With galleries built around major inspirations in Mr. De La Renta’s life such as the “Spanish” & “Eastern” influences, “Gardens”, and more, the exhibit gives us a thorough look at what compelled his vision. Mr. De La Renta started his career in Spain with Cristobal Balenciaga and throughout his life continued to be inspired bythe Spanish world of art as well as bullfighting.

When asked what André Leon Talley thinks separates Oscar De La Renta from his contemporaries during a Q & A session, Talley expressed that it was Mr. De La Renta’s utter respect for his clients—the women he dressed and the woman’s body that set him aside from the rest of the designers.

With everything from Sarah Jessica Parker and Taylor Swift’s dazzling Met Ball gowns on display to a coat from Diana Vreeland’s collection, this retrospective honors Oscar De La Renta in a completely rich way that leaves viewers in a magnificent daze.

Text: KHUYEN DO
Photography: LAURI LEVENFELD