Iconic designer Oscar de la Renta has passed away at the age of 82

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Even though Oscar de la Renta was 82 years old and had a history of cancer, I was still surprised when I read about his passing last night. Oscar was a force of nature and he was still actively designing dresses and gowns up until the last days. The man loved fashion and he lived for making women feel beautiful and glamorous. We most recently spoke of de la Renta’s designs during the Alamooney wedding festivities. Amal Alamuddin allowed Vogue to come to her wedding dress fitting with de la Renta, and he was all over Vogue’s article too. De la Renta is also famous for dressing every FLOTUS since Jackie Kennedy, although I most closely associate his designs with Laura Bush. Hillary Clinton wore a lot of de la Renta eveningwear, but I tend to think Laura Bush’s go-to designer for all things was de la Renta.

Oscar de la Renta, the worldly gentleman designer who shaped the wardrobe of socialites and Hollywood stars for more than four decades, has died. He was 82. De la Renta died at home Monday evening in Connecticut surrounded by family and friends and “more than a few dogs,” according to a handwritten statement signed by two of his company’s executives, Alex Bolen and Eliza Bolen.

“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. We will make Oscar very proud of us by continuing in an even stronger way the work that Oscar loved so much.”

The late ’60s and early ’70s were a defining moment in U.S. fashion as New York-based designers finally carved a look of their own that was finally taken seriously by Europeans. De la Renta and his peers, including the late Bill Blass, Roy Halston and Geoffrey Beene, defined American style – and their influence is still spotted today.

De la Renta’s specialty was eveningwear, though he also was known for chic daytime suits favored by the women who would gather at the Four Seasons or Le Cirque at lunchtime. His signature looks were voluminous skirts, exquisite embroideries and rich colors.

Most recently, Amal Alamuddin wore a de la Renta-designed wedding dress when she married George Clooney. First lady Laura Bush wore an icy blue gown by de la Renta to the 2005 inaugural ball and Hillary Clinton wore a gold de la Renta in 1997.

On the red carpet at the Academy Awards, Penélope Cruz and Sandra Bullock were among the celebrities to don his feminine and opulent gowns. His clothes even were woven into episodes of Sex and the City with style icon character Carrie Bradshaw dropping his name – and comparing his designs to poetry.

“We will miss Oscar’s generous and warm personality, his charm, and his wonderful talents,” Bush said in a statement. “My daughters and I have many fond memories of visits with Oscar, who designed our favorite clothes, including Jenna’s wedding dress. We will always remember him as the man who made women look and feel beautiful.”

[From People]

You can see more tweets and statements from de la Renta’s celebrity clients and fans here. He will be missed, and you can see his influence on so many of the younger designers too. I wonder if they’re going to do a big memorial for him? Fashion designer memorials are usually amazing – very few people wear black because everyone wants to wear the late designer’s most iconic designs.

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Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

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49 Responses to “Iconic designer Oscar de la Renta has passed away at the age of 82”

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  1. Abbott says:

    Today is the one day I don’t mind seeing Amal Clooney’s wedding dress another 8,000 times. RIP Mr. de la Renta.

    • mimif says:

      Ditto. And GoodNames is going to be gutted (I think she’s a huge fan). RIP Oscar.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        I am crying, mimif. He was my fashion hero. Rest in peace.

      • Kiddo says:

        He dressed kind of dapper, himself. You don’t see that as much lately with designers wearing uniforms (looking at you, Kors, with your ever present black getup) and whatnot.

    • Enuff Said says:

      Forever timeless and classic designer for decades…loved his couture. He will be sorely missed. And incredibly handsome, too. Rest in peace dear Sir.

      • jane16 says:

        Well said. +1

      • FLORC says:

        Yup. Another amazing and 1 of a kind designer gone from the world. I hope his successor does his house justice. Yea, that’s Burton shade.

        An Oscar gown was always a favorite of mine.

  2. QQ says:

    This one stings… Just cause to Dominicans he is a SUPERSTAR so to my gaggle of seamstress mom/aunts etc This one they called me Late last night asking me if it was true 🙁 peace to his family

  3. Eleonor says:

    I didn’t even know he was battling cancer.
    A true gentleman, and a very gifted designer. RIP.

  4. tifzlan says:

    Is there a slideshow somewhere of his most iconic looks? Would be nice to revisit that today.

  5. Calabar says:

    I wonder what will happen t his fashion house? Is there someone to carry on his designs?

  6. Jaderu says:

    RIP

  7. paola says:

    In a parallel universe Carrie Bradshaw is weeping like a baby while wearing that gorgeous pink Oscar de La Renta gown.
    He was a true gentleman and an iconic artist. I’m sure he’d say that he had a great and fullfilling life and at the age of 82 he can’t really complain. Nice way to go surrounded by your family and many many dogs.

  8. poppy says:

    sad. what a great life.
    heaven just became a little more elegant, classy, and sophisticated.

    • Amelia says:

      I now have an image in my head of a crowd of superstars from days gone by, clamouring to get him a drink and a place next to him in heaven’s yummiest brunch venue.
      (There aren’t enough brunches in this world, so I’m counting on heaven to make up for it).

    • Mingy says:

      what a lovely comment.

  9. Amelia says:

    It sounds like he passed peacefully, and what an incredible legacy he leaves behind.
    Such a colourful life – RIP Oscar.
    It’s so strange, I happened to be walking past a huge De La Renta window display yesterday with an incredible red dress that made me stop and stare. His designs will always be timeless.

  10. Loopy says:

    And he still looks amazing even with his battling cancer,carried himself very well and did not look 82. R.I.P

  11. aligoat says:

    I can’t imagine the fashion world without Oscar de la Renta in it.

    RIP.

  12. Talie says:

    Wow… I don’t remember hearing he was currently ill! It must’ve been sudden, right?

  13. Jegede says:

    Not a good day for anyone named Oscar it seems. RIP

  14. Gina says:

    I so admire those who are able to live their passion. He was able to do what he loved til the end. God bless his soul eternally.

  15. InvaderTak says:

    Oh no! So sad. He was a legend.

    Did anyone check on the fuggirls?

  16. Artimis says:

    So sad, and he seemed like such a lovely man too as well as being a genius. He obviously adored women, so few men like that left. R.I.P. Oscar xxx

  17. Christin says:

    To pass surrounded by family, friends and more than a few dogs sounds so peaceful.

    I tried to look up photos of his pets and discovered at couple of shelter pets for adoption have been named for him. That’s a nice tribute in my book.

  18. Dana m says:

    What a brilliant and elegant gentleman. He was one of the best. May he rest peacefully.

  19. CTgirl says:

    R.I.P. – You were a gentleman Mr. de la Renta and you will be missed.

  20. laurie says:

    I bought an embroidered flowered sleeveless dress of his and matching shoes to go to a wedding. It was on sale and I still couldn’t afford it, but what a piece of beautiful work! If i had more money I would have bought many more of his dresses. Such an incredible talent. RIP he will be missed. Loved his being surrounded by family and many dogs.

  21. Chem says:

    Que hombre tan admirable y talentoso. Siempre va a ser recordado como la hermosura de persona que era. Ni siquiera puedo escribir en ingles. Un maestro.

  22. kri says:

    God, he was as beautiful as his designs. RIP, Oscar. You are the Leonardo of fashion.

  23. Janet says:

    I could never have afforded him in a bajillion years but God, I loved his clothes!

  24. TheCountess says:

    A true loss. My screensaver has long been nothing but a gallery of his gowns.

    This is a void that will never be filled.

  25. Sunny says:

    A great talent, a philanthropist, a visionary who enjoyed making women feel beautiful. He left a great legacy. He will be missed.

    I couldn’t afford his dresses but I always loved looking at his work.

  26. Lucy says:

    May he rest in peace.

  27. Veronica says:

    I could only dream of affording de la Renta, but I always had time to look through his collections. One of the brightest and best – rarely did we see a misstep on the red carpet if he was behind the star. I’m sad to see him go.