Tag Archives: Oscar de la Renta

fernando garcia

Fernando Garcia: The Art of Sexy

Perhaps in a good telenovela, Fernando Garcia would be yet another supporting character in the story, but his reality is one of fantasy. The designer is the co-creative director at both his own brand Monse and his training-base Oscar de la Renta, where he drapes daring and distinctly contrasting silhouettes.

 

Garcia is recognized on a first-name basis within the industry. Originally from the Dominican Republic, he studied architecture while his dreams of fashion remained on the sidelines. But in good Latin tradition, as he explains, through a family connection, Garcia eventually found himself interning with Oscar de la Renta himself in New York City. It was there that he met Laura Kim, who would later become his creative partner. In 2015 the two launched their own label, Monse, and a year later they were appointed creative heads of the house at Oscar de la Renta.

 

Fernando Garcia Monse

Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim behind-the-scenes at a Monse fitting.

 

“It’s the biggest blessing to have these two creative roles because every designer, no matter how one-note they feel they are, all at one point or another wish they could do the complete opposite just for one collection,” Garcia says. “I get to have the luxury of expressing the two totally opposite sides of my brain in this industry.”

 

Monse and Oscar de la Renta couldn’t be more different—the former an honest and bold evolution of sexy, and the latter a more elegant and timeless outlet. It’s like a grunge baby walking into the Romantic Age, and Garcia is the lucky one to time-travel. Most importantly, his collections are not “Fernando Garcia for” but true embodiments of the ethos of each individual label. His signature is evident through the execution, allowing him to reinvent himself endlessly in a way that is consistently compelling.

 

Fernando Garcia Monse

Fernando Garcia Monse

Monse Spring 2019 runway looks.

 

With a team of only four for the first two seasons at Monse, Garcia became one of the fastest-rising designers thanks to celebrities like Amal Clooney and Sarah Jessica Parker sporting his creations on the red carpet. Quite the social butterfly and a quick learner, he was set for success. A slow pace was out of the question; soon after its launch, the brand was stocked by Net-a-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Monse, it seemed, was unstoppable.

 

Garcia’s architectural background has actually helped him see design through a new lens. “If I were an architect I’d be thinking ‘There are too many windows in this front façade—we need to strip them down to make sure it’s balanced,’” he says. And just like that, he developed his signature: loud, asymmetric, and clean-cut pieces that resemble a masculine form. The expansion to menswear was a logical progression, as the basis was always in deconstructing menswear on a women’s body.

 

Fernando Garcia Monse

Fernando Garcia Monse

 

Outtakes from Pre-Fall 2019 collection.

By taking things apart, Garcia simplified the overall essence of Monse’s apparel. The brand first took a shirt dress, chopped it up to look more modern, and instilled it with the sensibility seen in basic menswear. But Garcia is entirely selfless when it comes to his design approach. “I think I project all of my ideas into the world because I have nothing for myself left,” he says. “My personal style is really boring.”

 

During the Fall/Winter 2020 season, Garcia and Kim had two days between the two runway shows. Oscar de la Renta presented a line of color-blocked evening-wear in juxtaposition to the dark hues of the younger brand. Monse, on the other hand, was a “happy punk” compilation of grungy pieces. “I would love for people to think of it as a brand that was able to answer that question of designing dresses that are sexy and interesting at the same time.”

 

Fernando Garcia Monse

The designer hand-draping a model’s dress.

 

To define his own image of the new “sexy,” Garcia has always looked to metropolitan trailblazers like Sarah Hudson and Kate Young—he wants to focus on fearless women who take risks with fashion. But throughout it all, he remains focused on being himself and channeling that into his creations. “I feel the same way about design,” he says. “If I’m inhibiting myself, I am not doing anybody any good.”

Adam Lippes

Adam Lippes Is Now Making Plates Too

American designer Adam Lippes just released his first-ever collection of home goods. Loyal to his love for patterns and casual opulence, the assortment of tableware designed in collaboration with British homeware brand OKA is abundant with colorful designs including birds, butterflies, and florals. Each piece, originally painted by hand, stays true to his belief of the more patterns, the better. The collection further includes plates, bowls, teacups and tumblers made from fine bone china and delicate glass draw inspiration from 18th-century antique rose porcelain — clearly the designer’s venture into home pieces taps into his ‘regal’ roots that stem from his time working for Oscar de la Renta and this exuberant style translates easily into the home, where he loves to entertain. Perhaps his next venture will be into fabric design or upholstered furniture…

 

The pieces are now available online.

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Met Gala 2019: A Recap of Memorable Camp Looks

The Met Gala — aka the Super Bowl of Fashion — is always an opportune moment to flex fashion literacy. The night’s theme was Camp: Notes on Fashion, and with such a niche and subjective concept, it’s clear that some guests did their homework more than others. We highlight some of the night’s biggest Camp moments below.

 

Billy Porter in The Blonds

1Images: Getty Images.

 

 

Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell

11Images: Getty Images.

 

 

Lena Waithe and Kerby-Jean Raymond in Pyer Moss

13Images: Getty Images.

 

 

Harry Styles & Alessandro Michele in Gucci

3Images: Gucci.

 

 
Kim Kardashian in Mugler and Kanye West in Dickies

4Images: Getty Images.

 

 

Dev Hynes in Gucci

7Images: Gucci.

 

 

Amber Valletta in Saint Laurent

5Images: Saint Laurent.

 

 

Celine Dion in Oscar de la Renta

8Images: AP.

 

 

Anderson .Paak in Gucci

9Images: Gucci.

 

 

Janelle Monae in Christian Siriano

10Images: Getty Images.

 

 

Dapper Dan in Gucci

12Images: Gucci.

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EH Gift Guide #11: The In-Laws

1. Giraffe_Manor

Giraffe Manor

Impress the in-laws with an immersive experience in famous Giraffe Manor where you can literally feed the animals from your bed.

Book online now.

 

2. hermes

Hermès Brides de Gala Bandana

A silk accessory that will always remain in style.

$195, available online on Hermes.com.

 

3. Kenneth-Cole-Blazer

Kenneth Cole Velvet Blazer

The eternal uniform of a loungey gentleman is a velvet blazer.

$295, available online on KennethCole.com.

 

4. Ulysse Nardin watch

Ulysse Nardin Diver Chronometer

Designed with diving in mind, this watch features sapphire crystals and is water resistant.

$7900, available online on Ulysse-Nardin.com.

 

5. Richard-James-merino-wool-polo

Richard James Extra Fine Merino Wool Polo

This lightweight and sophisticated shirt will last a lifetime of fancy dinners and whatnot.

$325, available online on Richard-James.com.

 

6. Oscar-de-la-RentaMini-TRO-Crystal-Suede-Crossbody-Bag

Oscar de la Renta Mini Crystal Suede Crossbody Bag

This crystal embedded purse with suede lining is fit for royalty.

$4990, available online on BergdorfGoodman.com.

 

8. Acqua-di-Parma-Razor

Acqua di Parma Shaving Razor

For a better shave, you need a better razor. Get a cleaner cut with this efficient tool.

Available online on AcquaDiParma.com.

 

9. chanel

Chanel Skin Essentials Skincare Basics Set

Condense the skincare routine with a straightforward Chanel touch.

$190, available online on SaksFifthAvenue.com.

 

10. sous-vide

All-Clad Sous Vide

Up your cooking game with this speedy cooking tool.

$200, available online on Wiliams-Sonoma.com.

 

11. isaia

Isaia Blue 7 Fold Tie

Gifting a tie can be a risky business, but this elegant and simple blue option from Isaia is the perfect bet.

$161, available online on Isaia.it.

 

12. dyptique

Diptyque Holiday 2018 Candle Carrousel

If you’re gonna give a candle, it might as well double as a decoration.

$60, available online on DiptyqueParis.com.

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John Galliano Joins Maison Martin Margiela as Creative Director, But What Does That Mean?

v2-john-gallianoGalliano image: EmilyMaree.

At just 7 AM this morning, the internet was already abuzz with the seemingly sudden announcement that John Galliano—the legendary fashion designer who, after leading the house of Christian Dior for just over five years was fired in 2011 after a heavily-publicized anti-semitic controversy—is to be next creative director of fashion dissociative brand Maison Martin Margiela. Perhaps the most provoking of any morning brews, the pairing, though a mouthful of syllables, forms the single most unwavering three-lettered-word burning through the minds of Margiela devotees, fashion academics, and anyone outside of this insular industry right now: why? Why is this happening? Why do we care? Nothing makes sense.

Christian Dior: Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture A/W 2009/10 - RunwayDior image: MyDaily.

Last we left him, Galliano had been working out of Oscar de la Renta’s studio via Anna Wintour, and the three leaders of what can only politely be described “red carpet fashion” hinted a potential permanent position for the deposed designer at ODR HQ. As it seems now, that is no longer the case. Known equally for his dramatically-feminine design as his own saga of personal controversy, Galliano gives himself away as the immediate “which one does not belong” for the Italian brand whose first rule—in really all accounts—has always been silence. When the house’s eponym and founding designer left in 2009, his departure was as spotlighted as much as his profile during his reign… in that it was not. The brand, whose strength has always been in its rule-breaking yet somehow subverted style, often times embracing the distorted and blinding qualities of fashion has never been about flash. Extravagance? Yes. Glamour? Of course. But never ostentatiousness—save for a few H&M and Kanye West-prodded moments as of late. In fact, the leading eye of MMM’s design in recent years—a suggested “collective of minds”—was kept unknown until only this past summer, when Vogue’s Suzy Menkes outted him in an online feature.

MMMMarigela image: Vogue UK. 

While it still remains to be rectified if out of ironic or pure persuit, today, hours after the recent announcement, like an oil-saturated meal, the true consequences of this decision are still digesting. In a statement the president of OTB (the group that owns the brand), Renzo Rosso said “Margiela is ready for a new charismatic creative soul. John Galliano is one of the greatest, undisputed talents of all time.” Thereby further destroying the utilitarian ethos and the hopeful idea each season that what Maison Martin Margiela presents upon the runway is just another step on the incline toward progressing fashion further of the brand. Like many conversations, the issue doesn’t evolve from the technologies or manual design in question, but rather the engineer that thought them up in the first place.

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2013 in Men’s Fashion

Resignations, unlikely duos, and ethnic face-face-face: no this isn’t an episode of Scandal, it’s our 2013 men’s fashion in review! So slide on that bucket hat, put Beyoncé on pause (we’re sorry B), and get ready to say goodbye to one wild year in menswear.

  • Apart from his SS14 runway show this past September (perhaps the most talked about RTW presentation in a long time), in which Rick Owens sent a cast of multiracial and multi-sized step dancers down the Parisian catwalk, fashion's dark sheep designer had a pretty big year. From the surprise announcement of a sneaker collaboration with adidas—initially conceived as a way for Owens to stay in shape (“I’m in my fifties now, and I need to do something for my heart and lungs,” he told WWD in June, "I thought to myself, ‘What shoes am I going to wear running?’ I can’t wear my big chunky basketball shoes–I’d look like a dinosaur running through the Tuileries”)—to an online e-commerce "evolution," hints of an LA outpost , and even some love for his family (long live fashion icon Michele Lamy). With all of these seeds planted, 2014 is looking like a very bright dark year. Just how he likes it. 

    Image courtesy of Huffington Post.

  • Exhibitions

    Marc Jacobs proclaimed in 2007 that "Fashion is not art," but we'll have to check back in with him in a few years from now, when he's proposing his own showcase. That's right: we're calling it now! We, on the other hand, believe in the preservation of couture, be it in an overpriced department store, or the cold stillness of a museum. This year we were delighted to see three major exhibitions that spotlighted highlights in men's fashion including; the avant-garde in Jean Paul Gauliter's retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum in New York,  the whimsy in Paul Smith's show at the London Design Museum, and the genre-crossing in Punk: Chaos to Couture which featured Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, Alexander McQueen, Comme Des Garcons, and more. 

    Image courtesy of CR Fashion Book, London Design Museum, Metropolitan Museum.

  • GreatGatsby
    Baz Luhrmann, Miuccia Prada, Leo and Jay-Z reminded us what 1920's fashion looked like in The Great Gatsby, and why we no longer dress like that today. 

    Image courtesy of Warner Brothers Pictures. 

  • Okay, it's not menswear, but when a duo of men emerge as unlikely as Oscar de la Renta and former Dior designer John Galliano, it does make news. After a recent rough few years, Galliano received an invitation in early 2013 via Anna Wintour for a temporary residence at ODR to consult on the brand's FW 13 RTW show. After a favorable presentation, and surprisingly amiable working relationship, rumor has it that a permanent post at the American fashion house may soon be extended to the disenfranchised designer. 

    Image courtesy of The Independent.

  • Balenciaga Spring 2013 RTW
    In November of 2012, after 15 years with the Spanish-designed French fashion house, Nicholas Ghesquire left Balenciaga. Fast forward to System Magazine's debut issue in April of this year, in which the designer cited that many of his issues came from the brand's overpowering parent company, Kering. Next, this past November year, almost 12 months exactly after his departure, Ghesquire was appointed Creative Director at Louis Vuitton Malletier, the biggest fashion brand for luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy. While it's not completely clear if jumping into a larger sea after having trouble with the tides in ocean is the best move, Paris eagerly awaits Ghesquire's inaugural runway show. 

    Image courtesy of NY Mag.

  • Balenciaga Spring 2013 RTW
    After putting his two-collection fashion line on hiatus, Yeezus collaborated with french outfitters APC this summer amidst about as much criticism  from the streets as from the fashion elite. We mean, really, a white tee for $120? Well you can run, but you can't hide 2013, because here's the kicker: the collab is coming back again next year. 

    Image courtesy of APC.

  • Jeremy Scott copy

    Fashion designer Jeremy Scott was appointed Creative Director of Moschino, a brand he once interned at decades ago, in October of this year. Will this prove to be an outlet for sportswear in the luxury circuit, or is adidas' hype boy #1 finally growing up? 

    Image courtesy of Collectivedit.


  • In October blogger and style icon Susie Bubble wrote in Because Magazine, "We are approaching the logo with a new attitude. Rather than being slaves to a brand, we take ownership." And with this year's most popular items: retro snapbacks with K-E-N-Z-O spelt out in bold threads, Opening Ceremony's revival of Donna Karen's four famous letters, and all Brian Lichtenberg everything, the statement seems hard to deny. Will next year allow us to be more subtle, or should we invest in more old school Gucci loafers? It's hard to tell, but in the meantime we're still reeling our favorite 2013 name brand shout out: Will Fry's Raf Tee.

    Image courtesy of Wil Fry.

  • Anne
    In November, Ann Demeulemeester of the influential Antwerp Six published a heart-breaking letter announcing her departure from her own namesake. 

    Image courtesy of The Source.

     

  • NYFW
    Just days ago, William Morris Endeavor and Silver Lake Partners acquired IMG Worldwide Holdings Inc in an estimated $2.3 billion deal. What this means for all of us, is that Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week is now under different management, and with the program's contract with Lincoln Center expiring in 2015, the future for NYFW seems as grey as Viktor & Rolf's new boutique

    Image courtesy of NYC Prowler.

Image courtesy of Style.com.

DerekBlasberg-NicoleRichie-AlexanderWang

CFDA: Behind The Scenes

CFDA Awards 2013

The 2013 CFDA Awards were held last night at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. The 400+ members of the CFDA Fashion Awards Selection Committee (comprised of members of CFDA, top fashion retailers, journalists, and stylists) came together to choose the evening’s winners. And while the guest list was tight as ever, Style.com will be broadcasting the awards digitally later today as a consolation for many. In the meantime, we took things to Instagram to immerse ourselves in a little Behind-The-Scenes ventures of three of the evening’s noteworthy guests: Riccardo Tisci, Nicole Richie, and Andy Cohen.

First there’s preparation:

AdrianaLima

Riccardo Tisci began his evening getting prepped with his date, Adriana Lima, with the caption, “Get ready….cfda…..@adrianalima.”

NicoleRichie

Meanwhile, Nicole Richie was putting the crowning touches are her evening’s look (Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2013 collection, Louboutin clutch, Jennifer Meyer jewels, Giuseppe Zanotti heels).

AndyCohen-ZacharyQuinto

Evening’s host, Andy Cohen, snapped a photo with his birthday buddy Zachary Quinto.

NicoleRichie2

Richie then made her way to the show, first snapping a ubiquitous selfie.

NicoleRichie-JessicaHart

Then it was time for the Red Carpet, where she huddled up with amazon Jessica Hart, describing this pose as “the only way I can take a photo with @1jessicahart #fiveoneisthenewblack.”

DerekBlasberg-NicoleRichie-AlexanderWang

Then she sauntered over to snap a quick pic (and give a little side-boob) with friends Derek Blasberg and Alexander Wang.

RiccardoTisci

Once inside, the Awards began (full list of winners below), where Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci took home the International Award.

RiccardoTisci2

Not pleased with the zoom (or lack thereof), he gave us a close-up.

AnnaWintour-HillaryClinton-OscardelaRenta-DianevonFürstenberg-AndyCohen

Meanwhile, Andy Cohen posed backstage with a line-up of Icons: Anna Wintour, Hillary Clinton, Oscar de la Renta, and Diane von Fürstenberg. Earlier in the evening, Clinton presented de la Renta with the Founders Award, recalling her first time meeting Oscar in 1993. “I was hosting, along with my husband, the annual gathering for the Kennedy Center Honors. We were in the receiving line, and people were coming through, and they were making small talk. Along came Oscar and Annette, his fabulous wife. So I reached out to shake Oscar’s hand, and he looked me up and down and said, ‘That’s one of my dresses.’ I said, ‘Really?’” She paused, and then deadpanned: “I always have been, as I am now, such a fashion icon.” Hillary’s Night of a 1000 Laughs continued with her quipping, “Now that I have some more time on my hands,” she told the crowd, “I am going to be pitching Andy [Cohen] and others, a new show for Bravo … We can call it Project Pantsuit.” She gets it!

CalvinKlein-DonnaKaran

Four legends just wasn’t enough for Cohen, so he found a cozied up Calvin Klein & Donna Karan, and asked one of them to smile.

Tisci-JessicaChastain

Meanwhile, a pixel perfect Tisci had one arm wrapped around his award and the other, the lovely Jessica Chastain.

Winners:

Womenswear Designer of the Year: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler
Menswear Designer of the Year: Thom Browne
Accessories Designer of the Year: Phillip Lim for 3.1 Phillip Lim
Swarovski Womenswear Designer of the Year: Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty for Suno
Swarovski Menswear Designer of the Year: Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne for Public School
Swarovski Accessories Designer of the Year: Pamela Love

Hillary Clinton Oscar de la Renta CFDA awards 2013

The 2013 CFDA Awards: All You Need to Know

Hillary Clinton Oscar de la Renta CFDA awards 2013

Secretary Hillary Clinton with Oscar de la Renta

Hillary Clinton was there. So was a new retooled fashion industry film version of “Texts from Hillary,” which garnered a knowing smile from the Secretary. She was, you know, just doing a little honoring of Oscar de la Renta. Bravo’s Andy Cohen hosted the 2013 CFDA Awards and incorporated elements of his talk show “What What Happens Live” into the evening’s program with light hearted segments you like “The Vault” during which photos of the nominees from the 80’s and 90’s were revealed. Giggles and humility ensued. A film by Jun Diaz which was shot at a historic Renaissance Revival mansion was featured and provided a thematic foundation through which all individual honoree and nominee tributes were connected.

And then there were the winners. Menswear designer of the year went to Thom Browne. A deserving win but not the exciting upset it would have been if first time nominees (for designer of the year) Daniel Silver and Steven Cox of Duckie Brown/Perry Ellis would have won. Dao-Yi Chow & Maxwell Osbornefor of one of our favorite up and coming brands, Public School, took home the highly coveted Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in the menswear category.

“We are honored and extremely grateful for this award. We were competing against very talented designers. To be recognized by our peers, editors and the fashion industry is an incredible moment,” says Chow. Adds Osborne, “We are thankful to the CFDA and Swarovski for creating this amazing platform for American designers. The menswear award is truly an honor.” Our eyes were already fixated on their growth from an indie label known for mixing structure into scruffy & edgy looks into now a CFDA award winning brand. There’s plenty to love about their Spring collection, but we’re pining for the next edition of their shoe collaboration with Generic Man that are coming mid-summer (image below).

Another notable menswear winner? Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy who was recognized with this year’s International Award, presented by Jessica Chastain.

On the womenswear side, Proeza Schouler won the award for best womenswear designer and the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in Womenswear was given to Erin Beatty & Max Osterweis for Suno. 3.1 Phillip Lim took home top nods in accessories with Pamela Love doing the same for the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in Accessories.

The night was electric and seemed to mark a turn in the page towards the future. Names like Thom Browne and Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez for Proenza Schouler, that at only a mere decade ago would have been considered upstarts walked away with the most widely recognized award in the industry. New talent like Public School, Sumo and Pamela Love have been set on the same course. Time, style…and the CFDA…marches on.

Public School Generic Man

Related: Public School Fall 2013