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On Monday the 20th of October, we lost a legend. I've always loved Oscar de la Renta and his fun, elegant designs. From Hollywood starlets to the fashionable First Ladies, Oscar was the go-to guy for a glamorous, scene-stealing dress.

In a fashion world that is stuck somewhere between no-frills normcore and high-concept avant-garde, there's something to be said about a designer who just wants to make beautiful things. And that is something that Mr. De La Renta did so well. One of the last beacons of the old guard of fashion, he lived for glamour and fun. We will truly miss him.

Here are a few of my favorite looks by the iconic designer:

Oscar de la Renta is for the bold, elegant woman who isn't afraid to be seen.

There's something very universal about Oscar de la Renta. Which is a strange concept, because in actuality, there's a wide scope of women who wouldn't be caught dead in a de la Renta dress. But for the woman who is on the verge, who might say 'Oscar de la Renta is too mature or too conservative or too girlie for me' well, this is the collection that might change it all.

It wasn't hard to convince me, of course, because it is quite evident that I am a die-hard de la Renta fan. I would do almost anything to get my hands on Fall's baby blue ballerina party dress (it's featured in my banner, after all!) I can see so many celebrities wearing this collection that I feel it will get dizzying, seeing so many starlets in Oscar de la Renta.


First there is the traditional Oscar de la Renta woman. The Upper East Side, Blair Waldorf or Lily van der Woodsen type who shops at Bergdorfs and drinks tea at the Plaza and plans benefit galas in the wintertime. But there's something youthful about these Ladies Who Lunch outfits. If the right girl gets her hand on the ice blue ruffled tweed dress, for example, it would loose some of its icy demeanor and become this absolutely cute frock. The yellow three-piece skirt suit on the left is rather Luella Bartley-esque (God I miss that woman's runway shows); all you need are some ironic hipster sunglasses and you take this skirt suit from Fifth Avenue to Bleecker Street. 


Then there are the obligatory tea-length dresses. Oh, how I wish I had a fairy-princess themed party to go to -that's how I feel after looking at some of these dresses. These dresses are couture candy, I'm telling you. Tea-length dresses are tricky and decidedly old-fashioned, but they are certainly making a comeback. Someone has already assigned Sarah Jessica Parker to the pink and black-embroidered dress, and I am begging the Gods to let Elle Fanning wear either blue dresses featured above. 

 
And then there are these beauties. These outfits are NOT for Ladies Who Lunch or any faint-of-heart woman. Probably not for people who are over the age of 25 (Unless you are Anna Dello Russo, who will probably don the hot pink feathery dress (romper? I don't know?) thing by the end of fashion month) I want Selena Gomez to wear the light pink peplum romper on the left, for example. I feel like she's a romper kind of girl and that would be cute and young but also really fancy-pants on her. And Lea Michelle can wear one of these since she loves Oscar de la Renta but always wears dresses that are a little too much for her. These rompers, on the other hand, would look fabulous!


And then there are the show-stopping gowns. What I would give to spend a day in that aqua blue feather ballgown. Or any of these dresses, for that matter. I just love Oscar. Don't you? 

Opulence is all the rage these days, and it is time to get out the embellished sweaters, decorated headbands, and heavy, rich prints. Dolce & Gabbana was the leader of the trend, with Oscar de la Renta and Balmain following suit. Will you bring on the glitz this season with your most ornate outfits?


 And if you want to get the look:

Chanel; Diane von Furstenberg; Matthew Williamson; Valentino; Oscar de la Renta

It looks like the deep emeralds of fall are going to transition into soft pastel mints come resort season. Every designer from Matthew Williamson to Oscar de la Renta is showcasing this cool color in their Resort 2013 presentations.

I personally enjoy how DVF did it best. To avoid looking like a prissy mother of the bride, go for baggy sweaters, tailored shorts, or sleek sandals when picking out minty-fresh items.

Will you be sporting mint this winter?

Oscar de la Renta has long been heralded as the uniform of many an Upper East Side lady who lunches and their Ivy League-bound daughters, but I think there's a part of de la Renta's clothes that appeals to anyone, whether you live in Park Avenue Penthouse, Malibu bungalow, or Wyoming ranch.

For fall Mr. de la Renta went for all-out glamour, using jewel tones and soft pastels as the basis for his collection. Jewels were certainly the theme of the night, for everything from headbands to silky fabrics was adorned with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and more. While keeping with his New York High Society vibe, he also introduced many looks that the younger set will surely jump for.

Of course, what I loved most was the absolute Blair Waldorf-ness to it all. Those silk turban-style headbands and jeweled beauties got me wishing that Blair would go back to the old headband for once.



My absolute favorite dress of the night? This baby blue beauty with a poofy tulle petticoat that would be perfect for prom. If only I had roughly four thousand dollars to blow on a dress.