John Galliano may not have taken a bow at the Oscar de la Renta show (though some claim they saw him peek his head out), his influence as a “designer in residence” was clearly felt. In a sea of so much designer talent, it remains a mystery why ODLR has opted to seek the advice of a designer who so blatantly, shamelessly and publicly made anti-Semitic and racist remarks (some point to Anna Wintour). That said, there was much to love in the Fall 2013 collection, but it was not a cohesive lineup. In fact, Galliano’s influence was so clearly felt that it almost seemed as though there were two collections put together.
Hooded cape coats, elongated cloche hats, lace dresses and languidly dramatic gowns were so clearly Galliano, while the classic daywear, floral embroidered and beaded dresses and brightly colored ballgowns were pure de la Renta. Personal views aside, there’s no denying that this relationship shows great promise, let’s just hope any repeat performance is a bit more tightly edited.
