On October 20th, 2014, fashion designer and style icon Oscar De La Renta passed away. In honor of his legacy, National Public Radio interviewed Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan. After listening to the radio program, answer the questions below:
Oscar De La Renta Was About Making Women Look And Feel Their Best
- Givhan tells NPR’s Steve Inskeep that ultimately, women “want to feel pretty”. Do you agree with this statement?
Beatrice Lodge is fitted in a debutante dress by fashion designer Oscar de la Renta in 1956.
- Inskeep states that De La Renta’s early years seem “so far from the world of music stars and first ladies and high fashion” and that “he seems to have come a long way”. Can you think of any other well-known people who came from very different backgrounds?
- Givhan says that “one of the magical things about him…that you don’t really see anymore”was his charm and sense of propriety. For example, in their last interview “(De La Renta) apologized because he had taken off his tie. I mean, who does that?!” Do you think this attitude set De La Renta apart from others in the business? Is it an attitude that is largely nonexistent these days?
- Look at a few of the fashion designs from De La Renta. Do you like the style? Why or why not?
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