Fashion Icon Oscar de la Renta Has Died At 82

Oscar de la Renta, a renowned American fashion designer famed for his glamorous red-carpet gowns and smart suits for ladies who lunch, died Monday evening at the age of 82, a spokeswoman for his fashion house confirmed to the media. 

Mr. de la Renta died just a few weeks after he named a new designer to replace him at his eponymous brand. During Paris Fashion Week in September, the house of de la Renta announced that Peter Copping, designer of Nina Ricci, will take the design reins.

He dressed Amal Alamuddin in September for her much publicized wedding to George Clooney.

Mr. de la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic, then got his start in the 1950s as an assistant to Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga.

Mr. Balenciaga was noted for his daring approach to volume, which certainly trained Mr. de la Renta’s eye for proportion. But the American designer—who later designed for Lanvin and Balmain—kept versatility as his mark.

He designed for every era’s jet set in his lifetime—from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, to Beyoncé, Sarah Jessica Parker and Penélope Cruz.

Mr de la Renta has had a mark in South African celebrity circles too. Your girl B rocked his creation last year.

On 24th July 2013, our Queen of everything Fab, Bonang wore the Spring 2013 creation when she hosted as she Luminance Luxury Store Opening in Hyde Park, Joburg

B* styled the dress with silver earrings, a bow-shaped brooch on the skirt, and a pair of red ankle strap heels. She completed the look with an elegant chignon, smokey eyes and pink lipstick.

The dress was also worn by Kerry Washington earlier in the year in February 2013 at the 44th NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California. 

She styled the dress with diamond earrings, a brooch on the skirt, a pink clutch, all by Kotur as well as a Neil Lane ring and a pair of nude Christian Louboutin heels.