Sometimes curiosity DOES kill the cat! Locked means locked....even if it was slightly ajar for just a second...20 years later and it still makes me wonder....

Dear Ethers, 

Wipe. Wipe. Spray. Wipe. Wipe.  Okay?  How does this page look today?  Spotless?  Fresh?  Good!  I really want to have a clean slate and get out from under the duvet.  I woke up this morning, opened my eyes, saw the sunshine (even though it was late October) and said, “Today I’m writing about a fond memory.”  That’s a great way to re-start a week, I reckon.  So Ethers, let me take you away from a very dusty One of 365 to a smaller set of numbers.  A girl yet to be tainted by the mysteries of love, or worries about the future.  Just a nutty memory that still makes me curious almost 20 years later. 

I had a childhood friend who had 2 older sisters.  They were in college when we were just in elementary school so I never met them. I had heard stories about these fabled girls.  They were supposed to be very beautiful and talented.  One was an Olympic medalist in horse riding and the other was a very accomplished medical student.  I’d heard that when one of them was little she’d fallen ill, but I never knew from what and frankly, I never asked.  

I used to hang out with his childhood friend daily.  Her house was really grand.  She lived in Bel Air and had an amazing backyard with a fantasy-like pool and screening room with every movie you could think of (even a popcorn making machine).  I had died and gone to heaven!  When I would sleep over, I always stayed in the guest room.  I really wanted to stay in one of her older sister’s rooms but was always told sternly by my friend that they were off limits.  I always found it really strange that their doors were the only locked ones in the house.  

One weekend that I was sleeping over, the sisters were coming home to stay for a short trip.  I was extremely excited.  It was the age when older girls were heroes—especially beautiful ones you heard stories about and had doors that were locked.  I recall my friend being anything but pleased. 

They tumbled in and were as glorious as I had imagined.  They both had long golden hair, sparkling blue eyes and pale skin.  Slim and well built, they were elegant and well dressed.  The only thing I noticed was one of them had a slight limp, but I figured that was from an injury from horseback riding. I glommed on to them immediately.  I could tell they were flattered but my friend didn’t seem very thrilled.  Especially about me getting terribly close to the Olympic champion sister.  

We had a great weekend and we’re just preparing to eat breakfast.  I’d just showered and noticed the door was slightly open to the normally locked room of the sister who rode.  I thought we were friendly enough so I could take a peek in and see what she was up to.  I was also dying to see her sanctuary.  I pushed open the door and there it stood.  Right in the middle of the room.  A prosthetic leg!  It was in a black sock with one Doc Marten laced to its ankle.  Being young and stupid, I burst out and told me friend what I had discovered.  “You’ll never guess what was in your sister’s room.” I said in a fit of laughter.  “A joke leg!”  My friend’s face fell and she turned crimson.  I began to color too.  “What’s wrong?” I asked.  “This is why I didn’t want to hang out with them.  And that’s why their doors are locked.  My sister had cancer in her leg and it was amputated.  She has several false legs that she owns and leaves here when she visits.  Some are in her room and some are in my other sister’s room.  She’s really sensitive about it.”  I was horrified that I had laughed.  But I still didn’t get it.  “But she is an Olympian….”  “In the Special Olympics…” my friend said.  I didn’t know what to do or say.  I knew that my friend was upset because she felt I knew some dirty secret (even though it wasn’t at all).  

After the leg incident, my friend stopped inviting me over, slowly stopped hanging out with me and didn’t take my calls.  I was confused, but I guess I understood that I had seen something she didn’t want me to, and now she had to get rid of me because I knew this secret.  When I turned 12 I went off to a different school than her and we never spoke again. 

Just recently I saw her name in the LA Times.  She had gotten married!  There wasn’t a photo—but I wonder, maybe if I hadn’t discovered that leg, if I would have been a bridesmaid in that wedding.  It’s strange how little things in life change fate.  If only that door had remained locked and I hadn’t been so damned curious.  What an odd memory, eh? 

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

Dear Ethers,

When you think of Oscar de la Renta you think huge ball gowns, wedding dresses, the Emmys, the, well, Oscars.  You think movie stars and royalty.  You even might think of the more mature, fashionable crew.  Indeed, his clothes have been worn by Hillary Clinton and Barbara Walters.  He even launched a plus-sized collection called “Oscar” in 1999 (nothing wrong with that–just pointing out that he’s targeting an older audience or an audience that can’t wear tight, body skimming looks).  He’s always been known specifically for his evening wear and his high-end couture that’s so expensive, even the rich shudder at the price tag.

But wait. Doesn’t Sarah Jessica Parker  get kitted out in his goodies all the time?  And the lovely Amy Adams?  Even Beyonce!  Has Oscar finally made the transition to the hipper, younger generation with his fashions?  Can we say good-bye to over the top velvet and ball-gown’s and hello to the slinky and structured LBD’s?  Let’s learn a little bit about the man himself before we figure out what’s going on with his label, shall we?

Maestro de la Renta (born Oscar Aristides Renta Fiallo) was born in the Dominican Republic in 1932 and at age 18 left for Spain where he was keen on painting but quickly turned his eye to fashion.  He soon snagged an internship with Balenciaga himself and then left later to become a couture assistant for Lanvin in Paris (pretty impressive resume, eh?)  In 1963 he worked for Elizabeth Arden designing custom clothing, shoes, accessories and clothing.  Finally, he stormed the fashion world in 1965 when he launched his own label.  

He has won the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award in 2000 and 2007 and in 1990 was given a CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.  From 1993-2002 de la Renta designed the haute couture collection for Balmain.

At 77, the designer is still cooking with gas, but I think he has realized that younger women want a taste of his style too.  So I am going to take you away from the 80’s Nancy Regan de la Renta and bring you to the sleek catwalks of now, where the silhouette is shown off, metallics are shimmering down the runway and accessories are architectural and modern.  This, ladies, is why Oscar is making Patricia Field still dress SJP in the goods for the “Sex and the City” films.  20 or 40—it doesn’t matter.  If you’ve got the figure and the confidence to pull this off, you are a de la Renta girl.

This is not a dress for shy violet. If you saw this on a model, you'd see it was a body-hugging, leg showing, bust enhancing dress that is made of a metallic fabric so you are going to stand out. You can't hide in this--and if you're buying it, you shouldn't want to. Imagine this with a tan, tousled hair, bronzer, a metallic eye-pigment, heavy mascara and a buttery-gloss. C'mon, tell me you wouldn't feel sexy? I hate to be a size-hater, but you can't be a larger woman and get away with this. This is supposed to be snug and show off the body in a good way. No lumps or bumps. There are plenty of other dresses if your figure isn't flawless. Hey, this is the new de la Renta--he isn't hiding anything, for anyone, anymore. Metallic Knitted Tunic Dress, $1,690, oscardelarenta.com

So, you are wrapped up in the dress already, why not wrap your feet in some glam too? These bandage sandals work perfectly with the metallic fabric in the dress and add to the youthful and hip nature of the styling. The platform is going to make the heel height (4.5"!!!) okay because it will add cushioning and the bandaging is going to feel like a sandal---ahhh your feet will breathe not swell when you dance! So, you've got the slinky dress, the modern heels that are going to make your legs look like gazelles--NO ONE will believe this is all by Oscar de la Renta. I think Babs Bush is gonna have a heart attack if she sees you in this! Leather Bandage Sandals, $675, oscarddelarenta.com

I love this leather cuff because it plays with the architecture of jewellery which is really in fashion right now (you'll also see that with the earrings to follow). I think it goes great with the badass bandages on the heels and also ties in the black with the dress and shoes. Wear black nail varnish with this for an extra vampy effect. I think it will bring out the darkside and accentuate the shimmer in the dress and your tan. Don't you just love a statement piece? Leather Cuff, $290, oscardelarenta.com

Of course these go perfectly with the gold metallic and the banding of the dress (notice the rims in the earrings). But, as noted before with the cuff, architectural designed jewellery is really on-trend right now. The curvature, almost like winding staircases, is very modern and sleek. It also looks very top to toe with the shoes. Gold-Tone Loop Earrings, $335, oscardelarenta.com

I think the change is clear. To me this looks more like a Missoni than a de la Renta creation. Is this a good thing? Of course there were many other items to choose from than what I decided upon (and I think it’s the dress that gives it the Missoni vibe). But, I do think it is good to start looking more youthful and modern and less over the top and couture focused. Obviously he has an eye for ready-to-wear and I think he’s doing a great job at capturing what women want now. Hey, if it’s not your thing and you still like the old Oscar, he still exists, but it is nice to know that there is something on the rack for me as well.