World Famous Designer. Oscar de la Renta Creates Excitement bY Visit by Debra Brown nized industry-wide as a true time- , ,Elegant, clean-cut, hand collection. Now he has shows in less classic. When he created some and warm". Those New York and Paris. Although en- Volupte', he wanted to be sure that it were the impressions ere- thused with the reception his Paris would not be a fragrance that would atedbytheworldreknowndesigner, show received, Oscar de la Renta compete with his first fragrance. Oscar de la Renta, on a recent visit say, "naturally, I will continue to Volupte' is a fragrance for the to st. Thomas. There was genuine show in New York where the pres- women of the nineties. It is a sen- excitement as he mingled with sual fragrance with a blend of floral guests at a fashionable reception oriental, and a surprise twist offruit held to welcome him to St. Thomas' notes that make up its aura. It took business community. He displayed two and one half years to develop a warmth and genuine friendliness and market. He wanted to create a that is reflected in his ability to fragrance that would glorifY women. design clothes and concoct per- Volupte', pleasure to all the senses, fumes that appeal to many women is a name that was inspired by the of all economic levels. Baudelaire poem, L'Invitation au Oscar de la Renta was born in the Voyage. This is a fragrance so dif- Dominican Republic 60 years ago ferent that he wanted to create a and migrated to the United States perfume bottle that would reflect its in the early 1960s. Prior to going to aura. The flacon is exquisite in its the U.S. mainland, he spent vaca- appearance. It is a smooth, rounded tions on st. Thomas several times. glass with a green caochan top "In fact, he adds, "I waited for my thatlookslike an emerald. The bottle green card between here and was designed by famed perfume Puerto Rico". He stayed at bottle designer, Pierre Duner and Bluebeards Castle and the Shibui was the result of Oscar de Ia Renta's back then and remarked on the love for an Emerald stone that he enormous changes to the islands borrowed from a friend many years since that time. He told of his first before. "Volupte' is more than a experienceindrinkingPina Colada. fragrance, it is a state ofbeing ...that He enjoyed it so much, he ordered moment of absolute pleasure when several drinks of it one morning, all the senses are aroused and the not knowing that it contained alco- spirit is liberated". hol, and found himself quite in- This famed creator of beautiful ebriated very early in the day. He clothing and exciting fragrances has had fond memories of staying in st. another side to him that is most en- Thomas before finally moving to dearing. Oscar de la Renta supports the United States. an orphanage in Santo Domingo, He later moved to Spain where tigeofmy Americanshowsissograti- where he was born. The orphanage he attended the Academie of San fYing and, after all, that is where it is the home to 350 children. He was Fernando, to study Art. His origi- all began." "To have a successful recently honored as one of the nal interest was to study art and it business you have to have global country's most distinguished citi- wasn't until he showed some of his business". When he first started zens. But most importantly is the sketches to well-known designer designing, he designed for the warmth with which the designer de- Balenelaga, that he was encouraged women ofleisureandmoney. Today, scribes the children of the orphan- to become a designer. Later, he his designs are forthe active woman, age ... "to look at the child's face and would work for Lanvin and Eliza- . clothes that are practical and versa- see a smile, that is the biggest re- beth Arden. He was greatly influ- tile. Oscar de Ia Renta bas gone on ward", enced by Balenciaga. Balenciaga, record saying he "adores women." Oscar de la Renta and his wife of he feels, is a great craftsman, and Oscar de la Renta returned to the three years recently adopted an his influence is reflected in the Virgin Islands this time to promote eight- year-old boy from the orphan- design of Oscar de Ia Renta. his new fragrance, Volupte'. His age. When asked, whether he will Oscar de la Renta was the first signature fragrance, it is now a best- visit the Virgin Islands again, he re- American designer to show a col- selling prestige fragrance in 00coun- plied that usually when he thinks of lection in Paris. He won a standing tries and won the prized Fragrance taking a vacation these days, he goes ovation from th~ international press Foundation Award in 1978 for best home to his island. However, who at his Paris debut of his Fall 1991 women's packaging, and is recog- knows. Maybe he will come back again .• 26 PRIDE MAGAZINE SEPfEMBER, 199