Prolific fashion designer Oscar De la Renta died of cancer complications on Oct. 20, 2014 at his Kent residence in Connecticut at the age of 82. He had been diagnosed with cancer since 2006.
Only six weeks after Oscar De la Renta's spectacular Fashion Week runway show in September, the esteemed designer passed away Monday evening at his Connecticut home. As per ABC News, the legendary designer was known to dress first ladies, socialites and Hollywood stars for more than four decades.
Before De la Renta's death, he has earned another high-profile honor after Amal Alamuddin, the world's most famous bride wore a custom off-shoulder De la Renta gown at her Venice wedding with George Clooney. Pictures of the happy designer were showed in fashion magazine, Vogue.
Óscar Arístides de la Renta Fiallo, famously known as Oscar De la Renta was a Dominican fashion designer. He was trained by Spanish designers Cristobal Balenciaga and Antonio del Castillo. He rose to prominence in the '60s as one of the couturiers to dress Jacqueline Kennedy.
An award-winning designer, De la Renta dressed everyone from Hollywood celebrities to royals, politicians and first ladies. Among them were Henry Kissinger, Nancy Reagan, Jacqueline Kennedy, the Clintons and Michelle Obama. He was particularly known for his red carpet gowns and evening wear.
The New York Times considered De la Renta as a "couturier to socialites" and "red-carpet king." Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal heralded him as "possibly the US' most noted fashioned designer." In the span of his lustrous career, he managed to remain significant in the fashion realm for over six decades.
As an individual, De la Renta was known for his charm, grace, warmth, candor and wit. CNN said he was often described as the "sultan of suave."
On the other hand, though the family has not clearly disclosed Oscar De la Renta's cause of death, The New York Times and family said he died because of complications from cancer. According to a handwritten statement signed by his stepdaughter Eliza Reed Bolen and her husband Alex Bolen, De la Renta died surrounded by family and friends.
"While our hearts are broken by the idea of life without Oscar, he is still very much us. Oscar's hard work, his intelligence and his love of life are at the heart of our company," the statement said.
"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," the statement continued. "We will make Oscar very proud of us by continuing in an even stronger way the work that Oscar loved so much."
Over the decades, De la Renta's eponymous fashion house has expanded from high-end apparel to include jewelry, sunglasses, fragrances and other accessories. And over the last decade, his business grew by fifty percent.
Because of Oscar De la Renta's death, the fashion industry has started to bid farewell to the admired and much-loved fashion designer. Models and celebrities alike also expressed their sadness and grief over his death.
The Independent UK reported among the personalities who paid tribute to De la Renta via social media sites were models Naomi Campbell and Karlie Kloss; designers Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg; singer Gloria Estefan and actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
Alexandra Shulman, editor of Vogue Magazine also spoke of the designer's continuing legacy and talent.
"Of all the designers in the world, Oscar de la Renta was the most reliable at designing clothes that made you feel beautiful," Shulman said on Vogue UK. "He stuck to his conviction about how women should look - elegant, joyful, feminine - no matter how fashion changed, but his designs never felt old or hackneyed."
"If you wore one of Oscar's dresses you felt you looked your best, which is one of the reasons that he was so often a first choice for ball gowns, weddings and public appearances throughout the world," Vogue editor Schulman continued.
The prolific designer, Oscar De la Renta has been courageously battling cancer since 2006. He is survived by his wife of nearly 25 years, Annette, son, Moises De la Renta and his three step-children, Beatrice Reed, Charlie Reed and Eliza Reed-Bolen; together with his three sisters and nine grandchildren.
Oscar De la Renta, the iconic fashion designer will be greatly missed. He will be remembered for his unswerving contributions to the fashion industry. His talent will forever be honored. And his influences for putting high society in haute couture will always be reminisced.
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