There was a surprising new face at Oscar de la Renta today: Zac Posen was sitting in the front row for the first time, not far from the socialites who wouldn't miss one of the master's shows for the world. "It's a dream to see the pinnacle of embroidery and luxurious fabrics from the best mills in the world treated in the most magnificent ways," Posen said afterward. If this wasn't the most lavish of Oscar shows, there were still more than enough rich details to go around, Great Recession be damned. And he didn't skimp on color, either. A vibrant teal safari suit updated with wide sleeves and cropped pants, a smart silk crepe dress with a draped neckline in pale melon, and a bronze linen twill trench with pushed-up sleeves stood out among white broderie anglaise and creamy tweeds. And as for those embroideries, one of the most interesting was a threadwork fitted sheath in white, hyacinth, and peridot.
The presentation could've benefited from less heavy-handed styling (Heidi braids with fabric woven through them and felt hats? heads swaddled in lace?). But minus the distracting extras, there were looks here to make his customers' hearts go pitter-patter, especially for evening. A belted nude column with lavish silver embroidery, a black Chantilly lace embroidered dress, a white silk gazar and black silk crepe one-shoulder gown—if your celebrity stylist hasn't already called them in for the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles this Sunday, sorry, ladies, it's probably too late.
