Oscar de la Renta
July 22, 1932 - October 20, 2014
I have always followed the world of fashion having many clients who are designers, models, muses, and more here in the city. Growing up, my father was a men's fashion designer in NYC, my mom's family, tailors - so designing is in my genes. I briefly studied fashion design considering it as a possible career then guided to become a teacher. I wish I still had some of the designs I created back in school - mostly gowns and other women's fashions. Oscar de la Renta was a well-known icon in the industry - not only back in the day but until the day he died - yesterday. Oscar de la Renta will honored and remembered for his never-ending fashions most recently Amal Clooney.
We live in an era of globalization and the era of the woman. Never in the
history of the world have women been more in control of their destinies.
Oscar de la Renta Quotes
"The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die," he told an audience at New York's 92Y "Fashion Talks" series in June 2013. "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."
Designer Oscar de la Renta dies aged 82 BBC - October 21, 2014
US fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, who dressed former first ladies Jackie Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, has died aged 82, US media report. De La Renta, who most recently designed Amal Clooney's wedding dress, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. Born in the Dominican Republic in 1932, he left home at 18 to study painting in Madrid, Spain. He soon developed a love of fashion design and began an apprenticeship with Spain's designer Cristobal Balenciaga. De la Renta made his name in the early 1960s when the then first lady, Jackie Kennedy, frequently wore his designs. He launched his own label several years later. Over the following decades he dressed nearly every first lady up to and including Michelle Obama, who he once chided for not wearing American designers.
Oscar de la Renta, legendary fashion designer, dies at 82 CNN - October 21, 2014
The man -- often described as the "sultan of suave" -- dressed every first lady since Jacqueline Kennedy. Among those whose glamor factor his dresses jazzed up: Oprah Winfrey, Ann Hathaway and, most recently, George Clooney's bride Amal Alamuddin. "We will always remember him as the man who made women look and feel beautiful," former first lady Laura Bush said late Monday night. De la Renta designed the wedding dress for her daughter, Jenna. The cause of his death, announced by close family friends and industry colleagues, was not immediately clear. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, but said last year he was "totally clean."
Autumn Fashion
When I worked and modeled, I always wore the latest fashions, often by famous designers - some of whom became clients later on. As I got older, fashion seemed less important while comfort became more important than brand names. There are clothes for work, media, play, raising children, weight loss and gain, and more.
This winter is about boots ... short and long ... with jeans and pants. Like Hillary Clinton, I'm not much into skirts - perhaps summer dresses - but not that often. Monday, I stopped to see my friend Lorraine, 60's and beautiful, who works in cosmetics at Walgreens in Bay Ridge - and always dresses for work. Dressing up is stylish with hairdressers and many who work in the make-up industry. They wouldn't be caught dead without looking perfect. People in the city who are in the fashion and the design world, usually wear black and are very skinny - straight or gay.
So there we were in the cosmetic aisle ... nothing new to erase-the-lines that some say show character.
Wanting to have some fun, Lorraine took a photo of me then I had a bright idea ...
"Let's checkout the Halloween aisle, talk to some ghosts and take a few photos for a Halloween blog."
This is the best we could do as Frank the manager laughed at us.
Zip-lining
My friend Dean, also in the world of fashion and jelwery design here in the city, emailed that his 74 year old mom in L.A. went zip-lining for the first time this year at the San Diego wild animal park. She also owns 5 horses that roam her 5 acre property. Bravo for someone in my age group.
A zip-line or zip wire consists of a pulley suspended on a cable, usually made of stainless steel, mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on to, or attaching to, the freely moving pulley. Zip-lines come in many forms, most often used as a means of entertainment. Zip line tours are becoming popular vacation activities, found at outdoor adventure camps or upscale resorts, where they may be an element on a larger challenge or ropes course. The jungles of Costa Rica, Florida, Puerto Vallarta,and Nicaragua are popular destinations for zip line enthusiasts. Read more ...
Turning 100 in Brooklyn
Years ago it was unheard to reach the age of 100 ... yet alone be functional. It's all changed...
Here's a cute story and video about Florence Levine who turned 100 on Sunday and had quite the party! Her family started out in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Brooklyn Woman Florence Levine Turns 100 Years Old NY1 - October 20, 2014.
My mom's name was Florence. Though my last name was Levine when I was married, after divorcing Ralph I went back to my maiden name, Crystal.
