Oscar de la Renta dies

NEW YORK — 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 on Monday evening in Connecticut surrounded by family and friends and “more than a few dogs”, said a handwritten statement signed by his stepdaughter Eliza Reed Bolen and her husband, Alex Bolen.

“While our hearts are broken by the idea of life without Oscar, he is still very much with 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 1960s and early 1970s were a defining moment in American fashion as New York-based designers finally carved a look of their own that was 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.

The designer’s specialty was evening wear, though he was also known for chic daytime suits favoured 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 colours.

Most recently, Amal Alamuddin wore a De la Renta-designed wedding dress when she married George Clooney. First ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton wore an icy blue gown and a gold gown by de la Renta to the 2005 and 1997 inaugural balls, respectively. On the red carpet at the Academy Awards, Penelope Cruz and Sandra Bullock were among the celebrities to don his feminine and opulent gowns. His clothes were even woven into episodes of Sex And The City — the characters comparing his designs to poetry.

“George and I wanted a wedding that was romantic and elegant, and I can’t imagine anyone more able than Oscar to capture this mood in a dress,” Amal told Vogue magazine.

“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 favourite clothes, including Jenna’s wedding dress. We will always remember him as the man who made women look and feel beautiful.”

“So sad for the loss of this legend. Oscar de la Renta, thank you for all the beauty and inspiration you shared with us,” tweeted Nina Garcia, the Marie Claire creative director and judge on TV’s fashion design competition Project Runway.

De la Renta left his native Dominican Republic at age 18 to study painting in Spain but soon became sidetracked by fashion when the wife of the United States ambassador to Spain saw some of his sketches and asked him to make a dress for her daughter. That dress that landed on the cover of Life magazine.

That in turn, led to an apprenticeship with Cristobal Balenciaga and later a job with couture house Lanvin. By 1963, he was working for Elizabeth Arden couture in New York and, in 1965 he launched his own label.

De la Renta cut an elegant figure himself in the New York fashion world, where he was a favourite of Vogue magazine’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and fashion-savvy actresses such as Sarah Jessica Parker.

Wintour said travelling with him was like travelling with the President. “He’s a superstar,” she said. AGENCIES