It’s a sad day for the fashion world: iconic designer Oscar de la Renta has passed away. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, but his cause of death is yet to be determined. The news comes just one week after the label announced a new creative director, Peter Copping, who formerly worked for Nina Ricci.
The Dominican-born designer was known for his breathtaking gowns; he dressed women in elegant, classic silhouettes that had a feminine allure unlike any other before him. He moved from Santo Domingo to Madrid to study painting at 18, going on to be mentored by Cristóbal Balenciaga during an apprenticeship, and then to work for Lanvin. The first time de la Renta made his mark in the industry was when he designed clothes for Jackie Kennedy in the early 1960s. He then started his own fashion label a few years later that made him a world-renowned designer admired by many.
The visionary worked right up until his death; most recently, de la Renta was the mastermind behind Amal Alamuddin’s beautiful gown for her wedding to George Clooney on September 27. Through the years, his elegant creations have been worn by many celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Sarah Jessica Parker, Audrey Hepburn and Beyoncé, to name a few.
Swift was among the first celebrities to pay tribute to de la Renta’s incredible life and career, and celebrities and peers from across the industry have been expressing their deep love and admiration for the designer.
"My all-time favorite designer has passed away. Oscar, it was an honor to wear your creations and to know you. In loving memory." - Taylor Swift
Photograph: Instagram.com/taylorswift
See who else de la Renta influenced through the years.
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