Oscar de la Renta Fall 2012 Collection

Posted on Feb 20, 2012 in Fashion

A little fantasy to stir into your Monday morning coffee, darlings.

There’s always a sort of restrained elegance to Oscar de la Renta’s shows; an air of extreme sophistication and refinement, tempered by classic good taste and the lack of a need to be showy. And we’ve tried not to use this line too much this season, but you really do need to see those clothes in person to get the full effect, even though they look pretty amazing in pictures. This time the collection has a more youthful feeling with childlike pinks and blues and ribbons and pearls as embellishment, as if a little girl got into her mother’s closet to play dressup and managed an astonishingly good job of putting a look together. Which isn’t to say that the designs lack sophistication; quite the opposite, but there’s a youthful exuberance here; a salute to the idea that clothes can bring you as much joy as when you were that little girl standing in her mother’s giant shoes and dreaming.

[Photo Credit: GoRunway]

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Pupioso

This collection seems pretty understated compared to past collections of DeLaRenta. The blue colors are okay, I do like some of the print dresses.
tsid2012

So beautiful! Love all the embelishments and the retro necklines. HATE the styled hair and headbands.
- Spicytomato1
  
  I was thinking that the hair was kinda fun…adds an edge that’s a cool juxtaposition to the garments.
YourBaloneyDontGotNoSecondName

All those busted hairdos. Damn.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EDI2DLE7DE3YPW2ONIHBWOVHMA ecallaw
  
  They are completely distracting.
  - snarkmeister
    
    The thing distracting me was that one model’s face…she looks like she got punched in the nose, and then botoxed. One row up from the bottom, far left. I couldn’t pay attention to the clothes after I saw her the first time (row 3, far right) — I just kept looking for her again to see if it was just a bad photo or if she really is that unfortunate looking. She reminds me of those Monchichi dolls from the 80′s.
Ennovi_R

Not my favorite De la Renta collection, but pretty nonetheless.
SewingSiren

The tromp l’oeil prints are very appealing as are the pinks he used.
schadenfreudelicious

nothing really winding my window here, and that Pekingese puppy hair is just silly…..
Susan Crawford

Not sure about those over-the-shoulders sweater-cape thingies, or those uber-poufy prom-like gowns, but the rest of the collection? Just delicious. Thanks for my morning pretty, T & Lo – and Mr. de la Renta, of course!
BazoDee

The collection looks lovely -I do like the retro look of some of the dresses. I don’t love the shade of pink either. But overall very lovely.
BUT OMG -what did they do to the models -they look beyond plastic – esp the 2nd to last row the gal on the left. She looks like a barbie doll -and not in a good way.
- http://www.facebook.com/sarah.clever Sarah Clever
  
  Yes, true, but they did use models of color! Props!
DinaSews

I watched this on YouTube so I can say that something is slightly lost in translation from video to stills. I can only imagine how GORG it was in person. The movement on this collection was spectacular. The details on every look were eye-popping. And even though it was different colors and styles, you could tell that it all went together. This collection (and the Blonds) truly made me wish that I could have been there.
http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd

The clothes are stuh-ning. Totally stunning. Only a few things are misfires for me. the pink outfit with the sweater cape? What woman wants to both, have her movements impaired AND look like a jimmy dean sausage at the same time? The other was the pale blue ruffled gone in the next to last row. Too much stuff going on imho.

Now let us discuss the HAIR. The helmet hair that manages to also look sloppy is a huge mistake. Lord help us all if this becomes a trend.
- janetjb
  
  We are in total agreement.
  
  The hair made me laugh out loud.
  - http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd
    
    I get what the idea is. Referencing the 60′s in the hair style, while giving it a tousled update. I get it. It just plain doesn’t work. Even a bunch of the models look horrible in it.
    - DinaSews
      
      We saw a lot of the 60′s bouffant with headbands this year, didn’t we? Seems like it anyway.
      - http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd
        
        Yup, seems like big tormented hair that costs a fortune to maintain is back. Oh no, say it isn’t so.
- Lori
  
  I can’t figure out how anyone could get that sweater cape thing on by herself. Maybe if she’s very flexible or double-jointed or something, but for most women it’s not going to work. Who wants to have her movements restricted and look like a sausage and require help getting into the casing? Unless you’re so rich you actually have a lady’s maid or you still live with your mommy it’s a ridiculous garment all the way around.
  - http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd
    
    And imagine trying to get in on OVER that hair. (hilarity)
    - Lori
      
      LOL. That’s the stuff sitcom physical comedy is made of.
      - http://joyouslifesf.wordpress.com Kiltdntiltd
        
        I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for giving it voice.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UH5XQGXDKLXDSVGB626B53KXBA linda

the pink gown in the 11th row I wouldn’t be surprised to see on an awards show. Beautiful.
gabbilevy

Very pretty to look at, way too fussy to imagine on real humans (but the editorials will be stunning).
snarkykitten

that hair though
VicksieDo

The first two rows, and all the shoes, are TO DIE~!
ChristySchiff

I want all of it!
Alisa Rivera

I like clothes with a retro feel but this collection does nothing for me. Both precious and dowdy.
MzzPants

I love that there are pieces for the ladies and pieces for the girls. Smart.
http://orangtunes.blogspot.com BIG MAC

The hair looks terrible, but I love the clothes.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GQIN74TNNQROY5JFPOWWBGJWEM andy

Cracked-out Ladybird Johnson. LOVES IT!
Bozhi

Pretty. It looks like an Austin Scarlett collection.
enchanted216

Pretty:) I don’t care for the baby blue, but I do the think the pink is quite pretty. The black and white looks are to die for!
- enchanted216
  
  Sometimes it feels to me like alot of these designers are designing specificallly for Michelle Obama…
ASK26

Fav might be the coat on the right in first row. But a lot of pretty here.
http://phantomminuet.blogspot.com/ MinAgain

I love all the colors! The peach and blue are very non-traditional shades for a fall collection, but I like them.
http://twitter.com/wednesdaydreams Natalie

Loved the collection but HATED the styling. The coats and dresses were to die for!
http://twitter.com/taijuuuh Taija HU!

I adore the two printed skirts. Heck, I’d wear the whole collection. I’ll take one of each!
Ms_Flyover

I’m actually amazed at how vehemently I dislike this collection at a visceral level. I feel like I’m looking through my Mom’s old boxes of clothes and they all reek of stale cigarette smoke. I recognize this is unlikely to be a majority opinion…
RedRaven617

I can picture Shelly O in a number of those dresses and looking far better than the models. The models all had little stick necks poking out from the top. Like it, don’t love it.
LesYeuxHiboux

The third coat and the petaled teal shirtdress for me, please. I’ll also take Christina Hendricks in a properly tailored version of the teal strapless with bows across the arms.

From hearing women complain about bridesmaids dresses I gather that most don’t share my love of teal, but I couldn’t be happier that it’s apparently a “thing” for this Fall.
https://profiles.google.com/104791269167429064986?hl=en&tab=h Judy S

“And we’ve tried not to use this line too much this season, but you really do need to see those clothes in person”–the most interesting thing to me is what you have to say about seeing them in person. This one especially. I love the textures and colors.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lucía-Gavello/1253586868 Lucía Gavello

Well damn you Oscar! How am I supposed to find an affordable version of these to cure my case of the WANTS?
giiiirrrr

Re the pastels, if I wanted to look like Mad Men Barbie I’d just pop over to the local bridal shop and pick up a bridesmaids’ dress.
poggi

It all seems very suited to Carey Mulligan and Michelle Williams, particularly the black dress in the second row and last pale blue gown with the short sleeves and interesting neckline. Very pretty for the right sort of woman.
Pants_are_a_must

No complaint against the clothes. They look incredibly luxurious. I just REALLY REALLY HATE THE HAIR.
Laylalola

Most of these read old old old old to me. In the way that a high schooler with pearls and does — almost matronly, even if ostensibly fresh.
portlandmermaid

the black and teal column with the gold belt is stunning, but man, those are some plain looking models with v. bad hair.
http://opinionandamovie.blogspot.com/ Deitra S.

I like a lot of this. Some of the coats are amazing and several of the dresses are divine. But the very last gown, very last photo: I’d cut a bitch for those shoes!
Louisa Sloan

I can’t get over the fact that most of them aren’t scowling! They’re even smiling!
http://twitter.com/IamDaBee Antonija Mitt

I love (almost) every single look here. The only exception is the coat with the fur Peter-pan collar. That went ove tot he wrong side of tweee for me. Other than that, I see a nod to the early 60s, yet fresh and modern.

Wearable, classsic, perfect. (Here, wearable does not seem to be a bad word…)

I seriously want the dress second row middle. I want to wear that right now.
- http://www.facebook.com/sarah.clever Sarah Clever
  
  I think “tweee” might be a typo, but either way, I think that’s probably how it should be spelled…
http://twitter.com/sanja_ramic sanja_ramic

The first dress in the 7th row seems somewhat out of place in this collection, but I love it. I’ve always wanted to see an Oscar de la Renta collection in person, is it everything I imagine? More?
Pterodactyl111

I don’t really like the big pearl patterns/appliqués, but that beaded dress with the feather coat is pure fabulousness.
vanjar

The coats are to die for! Want, want, want, want, want.
Judy_J

Third dress, fourth row. What a chic little dress! Love the shoes, too.
j_anson

Meh, no, the choice of THAT blue and THAT pink together just make the collection look like its inspiration was Babies’R'Us, and bringing out a whole chunk of the pink and then a whole chunk of the blue like that (presuming these are posted in presented order) kind of slaps you in the face with it. The design is fine, but I really just don’t respond well to the color palette.
http://twitter.com/VeryNotReally Shelly H

Grown women dressing like little girls going to a twee-party.
- http://twitter.com/VeryNotReally Shelly H
  
  Which isn’t to say I hate this. I think it just suffers from too much precious all in one place. It’s sweetness fatigue. Take some of these looks out of the collection and put them on the RC, and I think they’ll be stunning.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VA5XLSF3QRELSC3MUFSXLP4EIE rebecca

I love it. I am so buying Collezioni for this season.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Heather-Snedeker-Innis/519824122 Heather Snedeker Innis

a salute to the idea that clothes can bring you as much joy as when you were that little girl standing in her mother’s giant shoes and dreaming.
- You write so beautifully and poignantly that it’s as much fun to see what you’ll say as it is to look at the clothes. Brava!
Sophie Collier

Dear designers and stylists, please stop giving your models stupid hair. It’s distracting and distressing to the viewer. Nice clothes, though, once I could stop making sad-face on behalf of the models.
boweryboy

The black dresses look heavy.
The pink dresses look garish.
The blue dresses look soft and feminine.

I have to say this is the first ODLR collection I’ve seen that I’m not bowled over by it’s beauty.
DeborahLipp

Yowza.
PeaceBang

This takes me back to my childhood in some amazing way that I can’t describe. I can’t believe I love a collection with pink and baby blue, but I do. I love it. I freaking LOVE the headbands and tiaras. The crazy monkey fur vest and boots and killing me. I want a poster of this montage because it makes me so happy.
- http://shootingshoes.wordpress.com Amanda Gun
  
  I love pink, but any shade of blue will usually get nothing but a big EW from me. I wasn’t even thinking about that when looking at these pictures, though; somehow they transcend their colour!
sleah_in_norcal

not much here that excites me, and i usually love oscar. maybe the jackett on the left in the eighth row and the midnight crushed velvet (?) gown on the left in the ninth row. i just can’t enjoy those bland pastels and the hair and headbands are just awful. try again. i loveloveloved oscars spring 2012 collection. see my look book on style.com.
TSkot

HIDEOUS styling! What was he thinking!?! F U G L Y !
http://profiles.google.com/rosatcollege Ros Clarke

I want to be an Oscar de la Renta girl.
margaret meyers

Hair and make-up agreed on a “sulky pekingnese look.”
http://twitter.com/LianaBrooks Liana Brooks

Meh… I’m not feeling this one. There are a few wearable pieces but overall it reminds me too much of Meemaw’s couch.
http://twitter.com/sockandaphone Gaby

The hair is downright awful here, but Oscar never does wrong. Its adorable. Love the dark blue dress with the bows.
http://twitter.com/mollynoodles Molly Harrington

I’m thinking 5th down on the far right and 6th down on the far left would look great on Christina Hendricks.
http://shootingshoes.wordpress.com Amanda Gun

I love every single one of these pieces except that yellow dress. It’s fun and cute, and it looks like fashion for girly girls who don’t take themselves too seriously.
MilaXX

Hmmm, a lot of this reads a little mature to me I like some of the dresses (12, 15, 16, 30 w/o the fur & 31) , but most of this is to fussy for me.
alyce1213

Individually, I adore many of these (exclude rows 3-6 entirely).
All together, it’s a little dizzying (colors! patterns! shapes!).
The styling is wtf Oscar?
But there’s enough pretty to overcome.
http://twitter.com/chylde bellalozza

“twee as fuck shit”
ThaliaMenninger

I like the clothes, but the hair is making me insane. I’m suddenly going all Patty Duke and hotdogs are making me lose control and I want to go to Zanzibar or maybe Brooklyn Heights… No, I just can’t with that hair.
http://www.thirteen.org/downton-abbey/category/the-downton-dish/ Gotham Tomato

Whenever I see an Oscar de la Renta show I wish I lived the kind of life that would allow me to run around town in his clothes.

–GothamTomato
TomBord

Lovely costumes. What show are they from?
quiltrx

I totally did my own version of the gay-gasp at those first two rows (black/white/grey lover that I am). I really like it all, though!
ccm800

the stylingand shoes are gawd awful
altalinda

More youthful is a comparative term, of course, but this doesn’t feel youthful to me. I’m seeing the 80-year-old rich set in these. Except the pink gown in the second to last row.
DesertDweller79

Not my favorite de la Renta collection of late. The models’ hair annoys me just the hair in the Herrera show. But, there are some very pretty pieces here. It is a nice collection. But, it seems a little understated, even for de la Renta.
John Gregor

Many are quite pretty. Some are *very* literal takes on 60′s dresses. And I swear that first dress on row 6 is Majel Barrett’s Nurse Christine Chapel Star Trek uniform straight from the Desilu/Paramount lot. Hate the hair, it’s distractingly bad.
formerlyAnon

Damn, some awesome clothes for the rich here. If the man could ever renounce his love affair with the ruffle, he’d join my short list of Favorite Designers. (Not a sought-for spot, since I’ll do little or, more likely, nothing in my lifetime to aid the bottom line of those on that list.)

I ‘get’ the look of the sweater with (faux?) furry vest (the one that looks like it came from the skins of faux Yorkies) and fur-topped boots, I actually like it in a ‘but would never wear it’ way, but it’s almost a costume of a look, no?

Love the cut of the coat to the right in the front row & a whole ton of the dresses, he’s made some truly wearable and chic looking clothes.

Not a fan of the Disney Princesses in Tulle & Netting Collection on the final row.
PrunellaV

These don’t bring me joy. They remind me of being 8 years old in my uncomfortable church clothes.
amywinns

Indisputably lovely, but overall I have to say this is the most mature collection I’ve seen in quite a while. I often think designers work much too hard to reach the under-25 set, but this seems to be trying to shoo away anyone under 55.

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Oscar de la Renta Fall 2012 Collection

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