Press Release

George W. Bush Presidential Center Announces Oscar de la Renta Exhibit

The George W. Bush Presidential Center will host a major retrospective of legendary American fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, celebrating his...

DALLAS, Texas

The George W. Bush Presidential Center will host a major retrospective of legendary American fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, celebrating his inspiring life and exploring his award-winning career from its origins to his most recent runway and red-carpet masterpieces.

“Oscar de la Renta: Five Decades of Style,” features more than 60 garments, some on view for the first time. The exhibit will open July 19, 2014 and continue through October 5 at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. The show will feature a wide range of silhouettes from elegant daywear to romantic ball gowns and highlight de la Renta’s richly layered aesthetic and showcase the designer’s meticulous hand and mastery of his craft.

Known for his artistic eye and exquisite craftsmanship, Mr. de la Renta has designed for iconic women of style, including First Ladies Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Reagan. His designs for First Ladies reveals his secure place at the pinnacle of American fashion and offers an opportunity to examine the unique role of the First Lady as our country’s official hostess to world leaders and diplomats and as a trendsetter in style, fashion, and entertaining.

Highlights include Mrs. Laura Bush’s second inaugural day and evening ensembles, and clothing worn by her daughters, Barbara and Jenna, whose wedding dress will be on display. The former first family represents two generations of prominent American women who appreciate Mr. de la Renta’s enduring style—a singular vision consistently revealed over five decades on the pages of the world’s most important fashion and lifestyle magazines.

Additional garments from sophisticated Texas women, Mercedes T. Bass and Lynn Wyatt will also be on display. A video component will introduce visitors to the collection through stories, images, and personal accounts from Mrs. Bush and Mr. de la Renta.

From such A-list events as the Oscars, the Country Music Awards, and the Met Gala, the exhibition will feature stunning evening gowns designed by Oscar de la Renta for America’s most acclaimed celebrities including Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift.

This seminal exhibition, the largest and most comprehensive look at Oscar de la Renta’s 50-year career, is exclusively at the Bush Center.

Related Photos


January 20, 2005 – President Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush at Inaugural Ball.
Susan Sterner/The George W. Bush Presidential Library.
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February 9, 2004 – Laura Bush and Oscar de la Renta at Heart Truth event. Bryant Park.
Tina Hager/The George W. Bush Presidential Library.
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About the George W. Bush Presidential Center

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which is operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, and the George W. Bush Institute. The Bush Center complex is located on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and also includes a 15-acre park, a full-service restaurant, Café 43, and a museum store. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. To purchase tickets online, please visit http://www.bushcenter.org/plan-your-visit/visit-museum. To learn more about the Bush Center, please visit www.bushcenter.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.