The Biography of Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta was born on July 22, 1932, in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic to a middle-class family, alongside 6 sisters. He left home at 17 years old and headed for the Caribbean, where he studied painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid before switching his focus to fashion-beginning in illustration before becoming a designer himself. De la Renta-a huge proponent that one's background plays an essential role in their future-so eloquently puts it, "I think that any experience you have; anything you pay attention to is part of what I call the ‘baggage’ you carry with you all your life. My early involvement with painting, even the fact that I come from a tropical country, are part of who and what I am today.” De La Renta was one of the most successful designers in America, with his inclined and inventive designs having been worn to red carpet events and presidential inaugurations alike, until his passing in 2014.
Not much is known of De La Renta's childhood, besides that, he was the only boy in a family of 7 kids raised in a Catholic household to middle-class parents, with his father earning a living as an insurance salesman. . His extended family had political ties ranging in several Hispanic countries, and at the age of 17, he took advantage of this and left his childhood home for Madrid, Spain, where he would attend The Academia de San Fernando and study painting with the goal of becoming an abstract painter.
That goal changed, however, during his time spent in Madrid. The world of fashion he entered upon moving there enticed him, and he quickly changed his mind to dreaming of pursuing fashion rather than painting and abstract art. First working as an illustrator, it was clear from the beginning that he was gifted in this, and his talents led him to working with numerous prominent Spanish designers, including Christobal Balenciaga.
After graduating from the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, De La Renta traveled to Paris, where he was offered a job that moved him there for the coming years, working under designer Antonio del Castillo of Lanvin Castillo. He stayed there for 2 years before taking his talents to New York, where he worked under Elizabeth Arden-designing for both her ready-to-wear and couture lines.
Like most designers (into patterns) De La Renta worked under Elizabeth Arden in New York for another 2 years before beginning his own line in 1965. His label quickly become known in America as representing casual luxury for women of social status, many of whom he navigated through regularly with his then wife, Françoise de Langlade-editor of French Vogue.
Consistently exuding a romantic and feminine flare that became his signature style, De la Renta's fashion effortlessly blended American and European styles with a tendency towards a vibrant color palette, delicate silk prints, ruffles, and soft silhouettes. Now internationally recognized, he served as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America from 1973 to 1976.
After completing this term, and realizing he'd garnered a loyal following among the elites for his modern yet romantic looks, De la Renta expanded from clothing to also include perfumes in 1977. As expected, this was well-received and added substantially to his now incredibly successful business.
Unfortunately, he suffered greatly personally several years later, when his beloved wife passed away from bone cancer in 1983. Shortly after her death, looking to fill the void, he adopted a son from an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. On his own, he managed his business and raised the boy until marrying for the second time in 1990 to a philanthropist and socialite named Annette Engelhard Reed.
As his designs are now well-cemented in American culture as feminine, regal, and flattering, it's became a tradition among first ladies for them to wear Oscar De La Renta designs for inaugural events-to show their support for American designers. Some of these occasions are pictured below.
As you can see, wearing Oscar de La Renta is about as American as the presidency. Another occasion perfect for a beautiful gown by Oscar De La Renta is the red carpet. With one of the most widely known American Haute Couture lines in history, De la Renta has designed for some of the most talented of Americans for their red carpet debuts. Some of which are pictured below.
As you can see, Oscar de la Renta fashion is sophisticated and widely celebrated as a prime example of American fashion. The designer was strong from the start of his brand back in 1965 thanks to his experience in working under some of the other most talented names in fashion, and only gained in popularity, becoming a household name, and working until his passing from cancer complications at the age of 82.
Since his death, his brand has lived on, with Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim-two designers that worked closely with Oscar de La Renta near the end of his career-working as co-creative directors. His name brand lives on today, as the two continue to dish out the deliciously feminine masterpieces the brand is so known for.
Today, the brand is still widely successful among social elites and public figures alike. Their goal in moving forward, as is apparent in the fashion that it has released in recent years, is marketing toward more youthful clientele, and has been favored by the public, as it's offered more diversity and blasé to a brand that was once seen as too sophisticated for most. This trend's success led to an official line expansion to attract a less endowed population that is called O Oscar.
As one of the leading fashion brands to come from America, Oscar de la Renta was able to capitalize on his creative genius to uproot himself from his middle-class background and make a name of elite status for himself, reaching new heights of success in his 82 years. His business made him one of the most successful Hispanic Americans of all time, and the longevity of his career was proven by the numerous awards he was granted-including multiple Coty Awards, 2 terms of presidency under the Council of Fashion Designers in America, and the CFDA Womanswear Designer of the Year Award in 2000. His memory will surely carry on in the fashion industry for a long time to come.
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