We are completely stunned to report legendary fashion designer Oscar de la Renta has died at the age of 82.
According to Women’s Wear Daily, de la Renta died on Monday night. The New York Times reports that the designer died in his home in Kent, Connecticut, due to complications from cancer.
De la Renta was born in 1932 in Santo Domingo in the Domenican Republic. When we has 18 he moved to Madrid to study painting, which lead him to designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, before he worked in Paris as an assistant to Antonio Castillo and then a designer to Lanvin. By the time he came to New York in 1963, not only did he design a collection for Elizabeth Arden, but he was also buddying up with the likes of Diana Vreeland, C.Z. Guest and eventually, Jackie Kennedy. Since that time he has also dressed First Lady Michelle Obama, Hilary Clinton, Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan and Laura Bush, who described him as “the man who made women look and feel beautiful.”
Of course, he also dressed big-name celebrities like Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lea Michele. Not to mention, de la Renta designed Amal Alamuddin’s (AKA Mrs. George Clooney), wedding dress, which she wore in September. He also designed wedding dresses for Kate Bosworth and Katherine Heigl.
Dozens of Tweets have come in from a slew of celebrities and designers, who are mourning de la Rent’a passing and remembering him fondly.
My all-time favorite designer has passed away. Oscar, it was an honor to wear your creations and to… http://t.co/AOfPZbHg1i
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) October 21, 2014
Saddened to hear the news about Oscar de la Renta. Thank you for bringing so much beauty into the world #RIP
— Rebecca Minkoff (@RebeccaMinkoff) October 21, 2014
Rest in peace, Oscar de la Renta. Your beautiful creativity will never be forgotten.
— Courtney Kerr (@thecourtneykerr) October 21, 2014
Farewell to a true legend: Rest in peace to the most talented and most gentlemanly #OscardelaRenta.
— Eva Chen (@evachen212) October 21, 2014
De la Renta leaves behind his wife Annette, his son Moises, three step-children, three sisters and nine step-grandchildren.
