R.I.P Oscar De La Renta

Words by Emily Matthews

 

As the fashion world says goodbye to a much loved designer who specialised in bridal wear and dressing women for the red carpet, we look back over the life of Oscar De La Renta.

Born in the Dominican Republic in 1932, De La Renta went on study painting in Madrid at 18.

De La Renta’s first job involved working for Balenciaga and was asked to design a dress for a US Ambassasdor’s daughter which made it on to the cover of Life magazine. This was the first of many iconic dresses he would create for famous women. After the dress received such a positive reception, he was commissioned to work for Lanvin.

On the advice of Diana Vreeland, editor of Vogue, in 1963. He went to work for Elizabeth Arden for two years before becoming head of American fashion house Jane Derby and transforming it in to his own label.

In 1967, De La Renta married French editor in chief of Vogue, Francoise de Langlade who introduced him to many of her contacts which helped him to build up his label and for his name to become recognised in the fashion world. These women adored his feminine silks and bold colours. Oscar De La Renta soon became an infamous name in the world of luxe fashion.

In 1977, to reach audiences that couldn’t afford his designs, De La Renta released a perfume.

Oscar De La Renta was also president of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) twice in his lifetime.

After his wife died in 1983, De La Renta adopted a son from his home country of the Dominican Republic and remarried in 1990.

In 2000, he launched a range called O, a cheaper diffusion line to reach customers that he could not have previously.

Oscar De La Renta continued to dress some of the biggest household names until his death. Many first ladies such as Nancy Reagan, Hilary Clinton and Michelle Obama have worn pieces by him, Sarah Jessica Parker often picked his designs for large fashion events such as the Met Ball and most recently, he designed Amal Clooney’s wedding dress.

 

 

Here are some of our favourite Oscar De La Renta designs: