Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014) was born in the Dominican Republic and left at age 18 to study painting in Madrid. He soon became interested in fashion, however, and after sketching garments for newspapers and fashion houses, he landed an apprenticeship with the renowned Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga.
A brief stint in Paris in the early 1960s at the design house Lanvin-Castillo led to De la Renta’s arrival in New York City in 1963. Following the advice of Diana Vreeland, Vogue editor-in-chief, he joined Elizabeth Arden's design house, and in 1965 he launched his own label.
His couture-like ready-to-wear garments combined traditional craftsmanship, modern yet romantic designs, and a vibrant color palette with a distinctive Latin flair. These elegant, feminine designs quickly because popular with the rich and famous across the globe, and De la Renta dressed political wives, actresses, and other celebrities.
Nancy Reagan and Oscar de la Renta attending a Council of Fashion Designers of America dinner, January 11, 1988
De la Renta received back-to-back Coty Awards in 1967 and 1968, along with numerous other awards later in life, and he served as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America twice. Beyond fashion, he was a major patron of the arts. He also launched his first of many perfumes in 1977, and later he expanded into accessories (2001), furniture (2002), and a bridal line (2006). He maintained close ties with his homeland and acted as an unofficial ambassador throughout his life.
De la Renta’s first wife, whom he married in 1967, was Françoise de Langlade, editor-in-chief of French Vogue. She assisted his rise in fashion society by introducing him to influential individuals. He was devastated by her death in 1983. Later that year he adopted a son from the Dominican Republic, and several years later he married Annette Reed. De la Renta died of cancer in 2014. The Oscar de la Renta label continues, with involvement from his son, stepdaughter, and son-in-law.
