Pakistani designers say adios to the Sultan of Suave

Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta passes away, leaving behind an indelible legacy

LAHORE/ KARACHI:

He dressed the First Ladies. He was the doyen of the red carpet. He was Oscar de la Renta. Trusted by Hollywood fashion frontrunners, de la Renta garnered unparalleled adulation in the international fashion scene.

With high spirits and pristine suits, he was fashion personified. Having battled with cancer for a decade, the fashion powerhouse passed away on October 20 at the age of 82. The news of de la Renta’s death has sent shock waves through the world. The Express Tribune talks to local designers and models to explore how the global fashion icon has impacted Pakistani fashion.

“The world has lost a beacon of style. There is something so magical about his name and it exudes class, glamour and style,” says designer Hasan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY). He feels that de la Renta understood the glamour of women and designed, not just for the red carpet but also for stylish young women who appreciate elegance. HSY states that although edgy trends now seem to dominate fashion, with de la Renta, it was all about nostalgic charm merged with contemporary technique. “What de la Renta had, no one else has,” he says.

Kamiar Rokni of The House of Kamiar Rokni was greatly inspired by de la Renta’s style and magnanimity. “We lost the last of the gentlemen designers. De la Renta represented the sophisticated old-school couturier and was America’s first designer to have worked in France.” What he loved most about de la Renta’s work was the elegance and effortless regality his clothes exhibited. “One thing young designers can learn from de la Renta is that elegance is eternal and you can never wrong with it,” says Rokni.

Celebrated model Vaneeza Ahmad Ali finds his style timeless and described him as a ‘legend’. He inspired her to dress with modishness and class. She adds that his ensembles were not only relevant for older clientele, but middle-aged fashionistas, such as Amal Alamuddin, Sarah Jessica Parker and Penelope Cruz were also drawn to his classic silhouettes.



Designer Faraz Mannan expresses sorrow over the death of the maestro. “It’s a great loss. He was one of my favourite designers. Visiting New York City was incomplete without going to his store.” Manan draws inspiration from de La Renta’s unmatched embroidery, crisp button-downs, faultless thread work, and unusual appliqué patterns.

Shehla Chatoor, known for her luxe prêt, comments on de la Renta’s contribution to the fashion world, saying, “Be it the red carpet or dressing up movie stars, [he was] fabulous. It’s a huge loss for the fashion industry.”

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Spain during the Franco era, the influential designer helped put New York on the fashion map in the 1970s and 1980s alongside Paris and Milan. He bids farewell to the fashion world with the promise that his legacy will live on.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2014.

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