Photo: Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta

In Bryant Park, just blocks away from the city’s modern art galleries, Oscar de la Renta presented his latest collection for resort, a strong tribute to artist predecessor Pablo Picasso and the designer’s own Spanish roots. The 62 looks de la Renta sent down the runway captured the spirit of an electric, almost provocative Spanish culture alive with fiestas, matador bullfighting, and flamenco—a few models in ruffled dresses could have definitely passed for real dancers sans castanets. The influence of Picasso’s iconic cubist paintings was evident in the graphic angular shapes decoupaging the frocks. The collection includes poolside get ups as well as evening wear (we especially loved Candice Swanepoel in that sensational one-shouldered minty green number. A lesser talent may have given such a collection a campy, flashy feel, but each piece showed de la Renta’s gorgeous handwork in the details—meticulous beading, embroidery, patchwork, and otherwise heavy embellishment—all working beautifully towards the bigger picture: a masterpiece of elegance and unmistakably Oscar.