Oscar de la Renta, the prolific American designer, has died, ABC News and Univision have confirmed. He was 82-years-old.
He was best known to have dressed celebrities ranging from Jackie Kennedy to Jennifer Garner over the years, and whose brand became synonymous with timeless yet fierce elegance. De la Renta had appointed Peter Copping as Creative Director of his eponymous brand just last week.
The designer had been battling cancer since 2006, although his cause of death is not immediately known.
In a career that spanned some 50-plus years, de la Renta’s designs were seen on everyone from first ladies to virtually every celebrity. Human rights lawyer and activist Amal Alamuddin donned a truly spectacular de la Renta gown when she married actor George Clooney last month.
Graced with an indefatigable charm, the designer was known for his feminine, romantic frocks. His confections were a throwback to a different, more glamorous era — much like the designer himself. And thus, he will be sorely missed by those in high fashion, as well as those who were just adoring spectators of his work.
We’ll leave you now with a quote from Oscar himself:
The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die. We always think we are going to live forever. The dying aspect we will never accept. The one thing about having this kind of warning is how you appreciate every single day of life.
People ask me, “At your age, when are you going to retire?”
I think every single day there is a learning process. For a long time…I wondered what would happen to the brand when I am no longer here. But I will be here for a very, very long time.
Rest in peace, Oscar de la Renta.
