IN THE GARDEN WITH OSCAR DE LA RENTA

Spring is here, so what better time to celebrate all things garden than with a collaboration with a most famous one? Oscar de la Renta has just unveiled a new entertaining collection, created with The New York Botanical Garden,  that takes its inspiration from all things jardin, including trellis details, leaves, blooms and more.  By researching the archives of the Garden, ideas for the 15 piece collection arose from 18th and 19th Century studies and is perfect for those that appreciate the beauty that comes from growing and living with the bounty a spring garden has to offer. Available through Oscar de la Renta boutiques and Oscardelarenta.com.

Photo courtesy of Oscar de la Renta Home

New York Botanical Garden Trellis Salad Plate of stoneware with blue on cream tracery details

 A mossy green swirled earthenware Marbleized Charger, while full of pattern, works when mixed with a variety of large or small scale motifs.

Taken from a rare botanic study in the NYBG archives, the Apple Leaf Salad Plate features an oversized green leaf against an octagonal cream stoneware plate.

BOUNTIFUL: AN UNEXPECTED CENTERPIECE

Photo courtesy of Oscar de la Renta

Flowers are usually the centerpiece of choice for the Thanksgiving table. Few things are as beautiful as bright dahlias in orange and yellow, but why not use fresh fruit and vegetables instead? Adding the right dose of color as well as texture, the inclusion of fruits provide the dual function of being edible and eco. Start with a bowl that has personality. I love Oscar de la Renta's new heart-etched footed glass bowl. Hand-blown in Portugal, the bubbled glass has an early American charm. Just the sensibility that is perfect for a Thanksgiving table. After it serves its purpose on the table, the bowl can elevate the everyday as a popcorn bowl on movie night.

THE TABLE IS SET: OSCAR DE LA RENTA DEBUTS HIS TABLETOP COLLECTION

Oscar de la Renta has teamed up with New York-based interior designer Miles Redd for his latest foray into home.  The inimitable couture designer debuts his home accessories range this week online. Redd, who channels the age of elegance from a bygone era so well, has worked with de la Renta as a creative director for home, overseeing his furniture with Century, fabrics for Lee Jofa, and now tabletop and home accessories.  

I have eagerly awaited the tabletop and decorative accents, and it has exceeded my high expectations, in the design influences, materials and creative execution. The collection, filled with casual everyday plates and great gifts, is inspired by de la Renta's Punta Cana home in the  Dominican Republic. Water-inspired blue hues are presented though dip dyed accessories and blue brushstroke details on dinnerware, while the colorful printed tray patterns are taken from archival designs. The classic meets traditional, with a bit of the unexpected thrown in.  These are elegant pieces you have not seen before, but they have a nice familiarity to them without being precious, that make them instantly comforting. 

You may recall ODLR did a flatware and decorative home collection with Lunt several years back. If you had favorite pieces in that collection that you miss, there are some reincarnated designs with similar casual island style appeal. The collection has just gone live on the Oscar de la Renta website, and can also be found on Bloomingdale's website and NeimanMarcus.com.

Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest, David Prince

The January 2013 Architectural Digest revealed the prominently blue and white collection with beautifully set table that mixed the pieces, as seen above.

On the ODLR website, the dash and dot stoneware patterned plates in blue and white are paired with teak wood with silver accents and etched glassware. Showing a serving bowl can double as a centerpiece, they filled the bowl with a monochromatic arrangement of white carnations. Nice touch.

Photo David Prince

AD showed the Dot and Dash indigo pattern octagonal plates stacked against a red and white floral woven damask ODLR fabric for Lee Jofa.

 

Dot and Dash Dinner Plate

Dot and Dash Cocktail Plate Set

 

Brushstroke Dinner Plate

Brushstroke Cocktail Plate Set

Pavilion Stoneware on the indigo Cadiz Marbleized Resin and Laquer trays.

Pavilon Serving Bowl in a vibrant canary yellow.

Photo by David Prince

Pavilion Stoneware in White.

 

Teak Serving Bowl with silver base in a familiar Revere-bowl silhouette.

Teak Cheese Board with turned handles that match the flatware.

Teak Salt Cellars with Horn Spoons can also serve as nut bowls.

Teak turned handle Kent Cheese Service.

Kent Silverplate Flatware in Teak.

Photo by David Prince

Tortuga Flatware of Stainless Steel and Natural Horn that resembles ivory.

As salad servers.

Photo by David Prince

A mix of indigo hemstitch napkins in Ikat Dot and Woodblock patterns on linen.

Photo by David Prince

One of the most impressive aspects of the new collection is this faceted hand-blown glassware with blue rims. They look like crystal.

With an etched heart and branches on bubbled glass, hand-blown Heart Etched Glasses have a charm to them.

Transforming the Julep Cup, a strong geometric Basketweave Silverplate Julep Cup has great style.

Adorable tiny hearts cover the surface of the Heart Julep Cup.

The fish water pitcher has been around for ages, here it has been reinterpreted in a divided blue and white version with a dip dyed striation.

A jumping fish in the same fresh dip dyed coloration on a serving piece.

The cream glazed lidded Shell Crab Server can double as a display piece.

A gorgeous high luster Silver plate Nautilus Shell, Fish Salt Cellars, Scarab object and Tortoise Bottle Opener comprise his assortment of animal-centric silvered accessories.

 An ombre fabric in blues and green is lacquered into a serving tray.

It is refreshing to see a sweet floral since ODLR has always done them so well. The Isabela Tray of lacquered fabric.

 The colorful floral Isabela as a frame.

A jaunty navy blue and white polka dot Ikat Frame comes in the reverse as well.

Fire engine red enamel encases the Sargasso Frame, available in a rectangle design as well.

 

 

 

 

GET YOUR OWN OSCAR IN THE NAME OF CHARITY

With the debut of Oscar de la Renta's new fabric line for Lee Jofa, charity comes first. Billowy beautiful ball skirts and a caftan have been created in a size 4 from the collections signature fabrics, to be auctioned off and benefit de la Renta's charity Casa del Niño in the Dominican Republic that provides assistance, education, and medical care to children in need. From September 7, 2010 through November 30, 2010 you can log in to www.biddingforgood.com and place your bid. The opening bid is $750 for each item, and who knows how high it will go for a chance to score a precious piece crafted in his atelier.

Just imagine this could be what you were to your next big fall fete!

The Abyssinia Caftan

Chevron Ribbon Skirt

Dotted Pleat Skirt

Racing Stripe Skirt

Arcadia Skirt

Kublai Kahn Skirt

FASHION AND FABRIC MIX: DIVINE DESIGN FROM OSCAR DE LA RENTA FOR LEE JOFA

Since 1965, when Oscar de la Renta first went out on his own launching his ready wear collection, he has been giving the ladies what they want. Hailing from the Dominican Republic and training with the best couturiers, he understood what worked--feminine ballgowns, understated chic wedding gowns, and day dresses with panache. If you love frilly frocks from Oscar then you are sure to adore his new fabric line that launches in August with Lee Jofa. Elaborate embroidery, animal print velvet, wovens, lush silks and ikats were inspired directly by his couture as well as antique textiles and world travel. The other night, at a party with Elle Decor, it made its debut at his Madison Avenue boutique, where friends, editors, clients and the Lee Jofa design team gathered to toast the textiles. Not one to shy away from gorgeous displays, ball skirts were made for the mannequins and fabric samples were hung on the racks next to coordinating dresses from resort and spring collections. Overall, the fabrics are showstoppers, see for yourself!

Embroidery and overlay in a girly strapless number from Resort 2009.

Fresh turquoise and femme chiffon in a sweet confection.

Photos courtesy of Style.com

Oscar de la Renta Resort 2011 full of clear bright colors and feminine details.

A table at the store entry festooned with a huge white vase and painted coral branches.

A floral woven and a zig zag in shades of blue on a white silk done up in full floor-length skirts.

Embroidered flowers trail down.

The ball skirts will be displayed in design center windows to announce the arrival of the Lee Jofa collection.

Oscar doing a meet and greet. Everyone was swooning for the dresses on the racks.

Miles Redd, Oscar de la Renta Home's creative director works with the design team to turn inspiration into reality.

An abstracted animal velvet woven in gold and black silk.

Zig zag silk on silk applique in an unusual color pairing of yellow, chocolate and pale blue.

A gorgeous Indian embroidery in rich tones.

Intricately detailed flower embroidery in a large scale repeat.

Tara Bonsignore, a senior designer from David Easton admiring the indienne fabric.