Oscar de la Renta’s Empowering Alibi Eau de Parfum

Oscar’s Empowering Alibi

New York fashion label Oscar de la Renta has just launched what could be the most empowering and glamorous fragrance of the fall season. It’s called “Alibi” and it is the first fragrance designed for the house by co-creative directors Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim.

This new eau de parfum was directly inspired by the label’s beloved Alibi handbag, which serves as inspiration for the bottle design. The timeless, structured silhouette of the bottle is accented with a reimagined gold clasp drawn from the iconic handbag. The duo chose a feminine blush colour for the parfum to act as an elegant contrast to the strong design elements.

“Our vision for the Alibi fragrance was to express the evolution of the Oscar de la Renta woman, and the duality of her modern femininity; chic and sensual yet empowered,” explains Laura. “The world evolves and Oscar always told us to evolve with it.”

There is a Canadian angle to this launch. Laura Kim lived and studied in Montreal for many years before moving to New York to work for Oscar. So she brings a Canadian sensibility to all of her projects and campaigns. To say that the brand is hot today would be an understatement. Taylor Swift wore one of the most remarkable Oscar dresses to the Grammy Awards last year; a short, tailored shift dress embossed with dozens of handcrafted flowers. Aerin Lauder immediately posted the design on her Instagram page. Soon, a red carpet of Hollywood A-listers were lining up to wear Oscar de la Renta, most famously Laura Dern at the Academy Awards.

For the scent, Takasago Senior Perfumer Catherine Selig wanted to create “a captivating duality of free-spirited floralcy contrasted with feminine sensuality.” The fragrance opens with a fresh citrus accordof Mandarin and Ginger Blossom, creating an immediate sense of intrigue. At the heart of the fragrance, the mystery deepens with elegant Vanilla Orchid and Heliotrope.  Sensual Musk, Praline and Amberwood combine at the base to create unforgettable silage.  

Oscar de la Renta Alibi: Notes

Aliba is a sophisticated floral-oriental eau de parfum created by perfumer Catherine Selip who masterfully combines notes of ginger blossom, mandarin, juicy accord, vanilla orchid, heliotrope, aquatic accord, skin musk, praline and amberwood. The smooth musk adds a sensuality to the composition that is alluring and sexy.

Key ingredients: mandarin, juicy accord, ginger blossom, aquatic accord, vanilla orchid, heliotrope, skin musk, praline, amberwood

To capture the essence of Alibi Eau de Parfum, Kim and Garcia chose to collaborate with house muse Irina Shayk and top fashion photographers Luigi & Iango. Shot at the renowned Soho Grand Hotel penthouse, the print campaign features a dazzling Shayk in Oscar de la Renta couture. Terrace and interior photos are set against dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline.

“Irina has been able to capture the spirit of what we have begun to rediscover at Oscar,” Fernando Garcia says. “Her confidence, wit and sensuality are things we always felt inspired by and knew she was the perfect encapsulation of the new Oscar.”

Oscar de la Renta Alibi is available in Canada at Hudson’s Bay stores, thebay.com, Shoppers Drug Mart stores and shoppersdrugmart.ca.

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