Oscar de la Renta at SCAD FASH

Photo by me, October 2015.

When the Savannah College of Art & Design opened a campus here in Atlanta a few years ago I would never have dreamed they would open a museum dedicated to fashion and photography and then they did this year. I made my first visit a few days ago and found it to be a great addition to the Midtown arts scene. This new museum with rotating exhibitions filled a void that the High Museum was not serving.

A dramatic dress and pose. Photo by me, October 2015.

This was the inaugural exhibition for the museum and it was such a magnificent way to throw open the doors and let the public become better acquainted with the school. Rather than go opening week I decided to let the initial excitement wain just a little and put seeing this show off until two weeks after opening.

Photo by me, October 2015

The clothes were exquisite. There were 84 outfits from the Oscar de la Renta line many designed by Oscar himself. The clothes belonged to or were worn by a who's who in fashion including a sable-collared coat from Anna Wintour and a gown of Sarah Jessica Parker's among others. You were able to get up close to them, not touch them mind you, and see the real craftsmanship that goes into one of a kind expensive clothing that isn't the ready to wear stuff of every day life. The quality of the fabric and the details were extraordinary. The outfits were styled with jewelry from Vogue and Kenneth Jay Lane. The entire exhibition was an impeccable collection of fashion and seeing them presented this way in a museum makes you understand that clothes can indeed be art.

Photo by me, October 2015.

Oscar de la Renta was originally born in the Dominican Republic and came to fame designing for First Lady Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s. He designed for Lanvin and Balmain before launching his own line and opening his fashion house. His style was classic beauty with very clean lines that complimented the natural beauty of the women that wore his clothes. He remained active until his death at the age of 82 in late 2014.

Photo by me, October 2015.

Getting up close with the gowns. Photo by me, October 2015.

The outdoor seating area overlooking the city. Photo by me, October 2015.

Now the gallery/museum space itself is interesting in its own right. The space is built into a parking garage on the rear of the SCAD campus. Basically, parking spaces were reclaimed, walled-in and this space was built. It doesn't sound too fashionable, glamorous or trendy but the space is actually very chic. It sits overlooking the Brookwood Split of interstates 75 and 85 in Midtown. From the front of the museum you get one of the better views of the city skyline. There is a patio area with seating outside the front door so one can sit and admire the view before or after seeing the show inside. Inside the gallery space is a comfortable lounge area showing films related to the exhibition and art books (mainly fashion designers) and SCAD related items. Students act as docents and are typically friendly and helpful. They are also there to answer questions and provide you with background information of what you are viewing.

A few more photos from the exhibition.