De la Renta takes bow with models on his arm

[February 14, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Oscar de la Renta did have company on the runway for his bow: models Karlie Kloss and Magdalena Frackowiak.

He also had famous fashion designers at his New York Fashion Week show on Tuesday evening, with friends Diane von Furstenberg and Valentino in the front row.

Nowhere to be seen, however, was John Galliano, who is in the middle of a three-week stint working in de la Renta's studio. The question on guests' minds as they took their seats was if Galliano, fired from Christian Dior two years ago after an anti-Semitic rant was caught on video, would stay at de la Renta's house longer.

They were left to continue the rumor mill, but for the 15 minutes of show, they were fully engrossed in the show.

There seemed distinct segments of the collection: the uptown lady who wears a belted shawl-collar jacket -- black leather or aubergine stretch flannel, her choice -- or a cashmere cardigan with dyed silver fox trim to go with her pencil skirt; the artsy jetsetter who wears her black-and-ivory, Toile-print quilted skirt suit with panache; and the young socialite who can rock a shocking-pink ballgown with gold embroidery.

Moving seamlessly between multiple muses is something de la Renta nailed long ago. He has stayed relevant with something like the black leather coat with gold Toile (you won't find this look on wallpaper), and he knows how to update the tweed suit.

A delicate nude gown with black-bead embroidery likely is headed straight for the red carpet on a top Hollywood star.

As long as you can afford it, de la Renta has something here to offer.

[Associated Press; By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL]

Follow Samantha Critchell on Twitter at http://twitter.com/AP_Fashion.

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