In Memoriam: Oscar de la Renta

Last night a friend of mine sent me a text message, alerting me to the fact that Oscar de la Renta had passed away. He was 82 years old and had been battling cancer for some time. I have always loved Oscar de la Renta's design aesthetic, and I was so sorry to hear that he had passed away.

By all accounts, it seems he was as gracious and elegant in his personal, real life, as he was in his designs.

As recently as 2012, at an event in New York City, Mr. De la Renta spoke about his cancer. He told the crowd, "The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die. We always think we are going to live forever. The dying aspect we will never accept. The one thing about having this kind of warning is how you appreciate every single day of life."

It was always one of my dreams to attend one of his fashion shows in New York, but since I am not a regular customer, nor a celebrity, nor a fashion insider, that dream never materialized. BUT, I have been extremely fortunate to find a couple of Mr. De la Renta's designs over the years on consignment, or on eBay.

I always loved his use of color and his delicate, beautiful fabrics, especially his lace and eyelet pieces. One day I hope to find an eyelet or lace blouse, or a fabulous, colorful dress, to add to my collection.

Another thing I loved about his designs was that he made clothes to fit women who are a size 0 and those who are a size 16 or 18! It seems his goal was to make women feel beautiful, regardless of their dress size.

So today, the fashion world is poorer for the loss of this creative man, who it seems, more than anything, was a true gentleman. May you rest in peace, Mr. De la Renta, and may God comfort your family and friends as they go on without you.

“Never, ever confuse what happens on a runway with fashion,” Mr. de la Renta once said. “A runway is spectacle. It’s only fashion when a woman puts it on. Being well dressed hasn’t much to do with having good clothes. It’s a question of good balance and good common sense.” ~ New York Times

Getting ready for Fall

Many years ago, I absconded with a steamer trunk that my dad actually used on a transatlantic voyage. It's not quite Louis Vuitton or Goyard, but it's definitely the genuine article.

Ever since, I've used it to store my 'off-season' wardrobe. Twice a year (spring and fall) I open the trunk and pull out clothes for the upcoming season. While I'm at it, I usually also review each piece I'm pulling out to make sure (1) it still fits, (2) it's still appropriate for my lifestyle/age, and (3) I still love it. If something no longer meets all three criteria, I usually set it aside and either donate it or sell it.

Well, today was the day for my trunk opening. Out came wool skirts and pants, some bulkier sweaters, and a few "holiday" dresses. In went my breeziest tops, my eyelet dresses, and anything in too light or pastel a color.

Next, I tried on my fall/winter clothes.

The good news was that most pieces still fit me. (Criterion #1, check!)

And, most pieces are still appropriate for my lifestyle and age. (Criterion #2, check!) 

So then, the last question is, "Do I love them?" Ah, here we get to the real problem.

Unlike Spring clothes, which easily put a big smile on my face, Fall clothes tend to bore me. In theory, Fall fashion is the best. The magazines are full of beautiful jackets, rich knits, and delightful accessories (hats, scarves, gloves!) and I love it all. But the reality is that in my day-to-day life--at least, my Fall/Winter life--my uniform consists primarily of jeans, long-sleeve t-shirts, and wool cardigans. I just don't wear skirts or wool slacks, unless there's some special occasion that calls for a dressier look. And as for button-downs, I hate ironing. Le sigh...

As a result, I feel a huge desire to edit and simplify my wardrobe even further. Then, once that is done, I will be able to clearly see where gaps exists and what I need to shop for to fill those.

For now, I must trudge through the hard part and look forward to the fun to come. :)

September Issue

After the disaster that was the Kimye cover of April Vogue, I decided to cancel my subscription. The issues in the months that followed did nothing to make me think I'd made a mistake. 

Then, I saw it. 2014's September issue. 

Finally! A cover that didn't feature an actress, singer, or (shudder) reality TV star. 

I think I read somewhere that it's been ten years since the September issue featured models. 

I'm hoping that this cover signals a return to the Golden Age of Vogue. I don't expect them to banish celebrities entirely, but a little variety would be most welcome. 

Quality over Quantity

One of the things that I think really characterizes the French style and mindset is the concept of Quality over Quantity.  It seems that the French are naturally inclined to think in that way, and to prefer something that is really good, even if it's in a small amount, to a lot of something that's only meh.

In the realm of food, that means preferring something like a filet with Bearnaise sauce, accompanied by vegetables sauteed in butter (real butter) and a bit of a delicious dessert (perhaps Tarte Tatin or some profiteroles) over the all-you-can-eat buffet cooked in hydrogenated oils and desserts made with high fructose corn syrup.

In the realm of fashion, that means having a few basic pieces (maybe from Zara or H&M) but dressing them up with some seriously fashionable accessories (Hermes! Chanel! St. Laurent! Oh my!).

I recently read Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris, by the American writer Jennifer Scott, who spent a year abroad during her college years.

According to Ms. Scott, one secret to the French's incredible sense of style is that they hone down their wardrobes because they just don't have the space for tons of clothes. She advocates getting down to a 10 item wardrobe (10?!?!) and creating multiple outfits through the clever use of accessories. (As a side note: it's no coincidence that her first three chapters are dedicated to diet and exercise. And, yes, she repeats what others have already said--no snacking, don't deprive yourself, and incorporate exercise into your everyday life.)

Anyway, her book inspired me to start a major wardrobe re-evaluation and a closet clean out. I don't expect to get down to 10 items, but I think there's plenty of room for improvement in my wardrobe.

I know that what I really need is to change the way I think and apply these new, basic principles to all aspects of my life. Not just to food or fashion, but to everything, in my pursuit of health, happiness and chic!