THE fashion world was dealt a heavy blow when legendary fashion designer, Oscar de la Renta died on Monday. His wife Annette confirmed that he had passed away at his Kent, Connecticut home.
De la Renta was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, however the cause of death is yet to be revealed. He is survived by both Annette and his adopted son Moises, a designer at the label. Company executives Alex and Eliza Bolen said in a statement that De la Renta died surrounded by family, friends, and “more than a few dogs”.
The statement also read: “While our hearts are broken by the idea of life without Oscar, he is still very much with us. Oscar’s hard work, his intelligence and his love of life are at the heart of our company. All that we have done, and all that we will do, is informed by his values and his spirit. Through Oscar’s example we know the way forward. We will make Oscar very proud of us by continuing in an even stronger way the work that he loved so much.”
De la Renta first came to prominence designing clothes for Jackie Kennedy in the early 1960s, and he started his own fashion label a few years later. Most recently, he was behind the wedding dress of Amal Alamuddin, who married George Clooney on 27 September, and starred alongside the bride in a photo shoot for Vogue.
His death comes one week after it was announced that former Nina Ricci designer Peter Copping had been appointed as creative director of the Oscar de la Renta label.
De la Renta has become a favourite of movie stars and first ladies alike, with Nancy Reagan, Betty Ford and Laura Bush also wearing his designs.
George Clooney’s new wife Amal told Vogue: “George and I wanted a wedding that was romantic and elegant, and I can’t imagine anyone more able than Oscar to capture this mood in a dress. Meeting him made the design process all the more magical, as he is so warm and such a gentleman.”
The visionary worked right up until his death, and held his most recent show at New York Fashion Week on 9 September.
De la Renta was born in 1932 in the Dominican Republic, and moved to Madrid at the age of 18 to study painting after leaving home.
De la Renta said in June of last year of his cancer battle: “Right now, I am totally clean. The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die. We always think we are going to live forever. The dying aspect we will never accept. The one thing about having this kind of warning is how you appreciate every single day of life.” – Mail Online
