Oscar de la Renta (in full Oscar Aristides Ortiz de la Renta Fiallo) is well known as an American fashion designer who blends European luxury with American ease and helped define elegant dressing standards among socialites, U.S. first ladies, and
red-carpet celebrities.
He is best known for his evening wear and suits for women, which over the years became wardrobe staples for his faithful clientele: actresses Amy Adams, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Penélope Cruz and for former first ladies Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama.
red-carpet celebrities.
He is best known for his evening wear and suits for women, which over the years became wardrobe staples for his faithful clientele: actresses Amy Adams, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Penélope Cruz and for former first ladies Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama.
Oscar de la Renta
Though de la Renta battled cancer for the last eight years of his life, his fashion empire prospered. Among his last notable creations was the ivory tulle bridal gown worn by British-based human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin when she wed actor George Clooney in 2014.
But Oscar did much more than stunning evening gowns.
Here are five surprising things about de la Renta.
But Oscar did much more than stunning evening gowns.
Here are five surprising things about de la Renta.
He was more than just high fashion.
According to Scouting Magazine, the designer took on the two-year task of remaking the official Scouts uniforms. He transformed the previously constricting military-style uniforms into more functional outfits by switching out the pants and designing new shirts that were made to use "de la Renta-designed neckerchiefs."
(01)
He convinced Anna Wintour
to put Hillary Clinton on the cover of Vogue.
to put Hillary Clinton on the cover of Vogue.
Describe your service and upload an ambient photo
to draw your clients' attention. Add some details about what's included in the service and what the client gains.
to draw your clients' attention. Add some details about what's included in the service and what the client gains.
(02)
He took out a full-page ad to respond to a negative review.
In 2012, then New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn wrote some pretty harsh comments about his 2012 collection. As a response, de la Renta purchased a full-page ad in Women's Wear Daily and wrote, "If you have the right to call me a hot dog, why do I not have the right to call you a stale three-day-old hamburger?"
(03)
He adopted his son from the orphanage he founded in the Dominican Republic.
De la Renta was born in 1932 in the Dominican Republic. De la Renta said that his orphanage in his native country was started "totally by accident" when
a woman asked him if he would help her. It began with a small school, but then he "fell in love with it." He loved it so much he even adopted his son, Moises, from the orphanage. De la Renta's son-in-law Alex, stepdaughter Eliza and adopted son Moises all work for the Oscar de la Renta label.
a woman asked him if he would help her. It began with a small school, but then he "fell in love with it." He loved it so much he even adopted his son, Moises, from the orphanage. De la Renta's son-in-law Alex, stepdaughter Eliza and adopted son Moises all work for the Oscar de la Renta label.
(04)
He dressed every first lady since Jackie Kennedy.
The first lady was known more for putting smaller designers on the map and steering towards more affordable options. For the first time in her tenure as the first lady, Obama followed in the footsteps of Kennedy and Clinton and donned a de la Renta dress from his 2014 Fall collection.
(05)
Oscar de la Renta
"Fashion is about dressing according to what's fashionable.
Style is more about being yourself."
Style is more about being yourself."
