fashioninstaglam: Tribute to the late great Óscar De La Renta 💕

Oscar De La Renta was born in Santo Domingo , Dominican Republic ,on July 22nd 1932 to an influential Dominican- Puerto Rican family. De La Renta was the youngest of seven children and also the only boy. To his parents Dominican mother, Carmen María Antonia Fiallo, And his father a Puerto Rican man Óscar Avelino De La Renta, owner of an insurance company. The Fiallos, De la Renta's mother's family, were so embedded in Dominican society that they could count poets, scholars, and businessmen, as well as top army brass among their members. His dreams took him far, his very first dress was designed for the US ambassadors daughter , Beatrice Lodge in 1956.

Oscar De La Renta And the US ambassador's daughter Beatrice Lodge

1956.

De La Renta moved to Spain at the age of 17 and studied in the ateliers of Cristobal Balenciaga , Christian Dior , and Jeanne Lanvin, before becoming one of today's most iconis designers.

In 1961 after learning a lot from designer Cristobal Balenciaga he landed a position next to Antonio del Castillo as couture assistant at Lanvin in Paris.

Oscar De La Rent worked as a designer for Jane Darby for two years , when Jane Died in August of 1965 De La Renta took over the label, he called the line "Oscar De La Renta For Jane Derby. 1966 he changed the name just to Oscar De La Renta and in 1974 he took over the entire business.

From 1993 to 2002 De La Renta designed the haute couture collection for the house of Balmain, becoming the first Dominican to design for a French couture house. In 2006, the Oscar de la Renta label diversified into bridal wear.

Timeless fashion is one of the first words that come to mind when you think of De La Renta , sheer elegance are the next words along with countless other ways to describe the best fashion in the world. The words every designer wants to hear and never gets old.

De La Renta Had dressed some

Of the most stylish women in the world. From former First Lady Jacquelyn Kennedy and every other First Lady up to present First Lady Michelle Obama.

And Some may not know that the icon designer is the designer behind the American Boy Scouts uniforms he reimagined them in 1980,

For two years he designed the official new uniforms for the boys , girls and also the troop leaders. The original uniforms were more traditional military style , he changed the style into a more everyday look by changing out the pants and designed shirts that were made to use "De La Renta- designed neckerchiefs."

"It should be suitable for strenuous activity. It should be made from an easy care fabric; and at the same time the wearer should still look like a scout," De La Renta told "Scouting Magazine" in 1980.

It is rumoured from close family as friends that De La Renta was an amazing singer :)

It's always interesting to learn more about icons especially to know how their thought process worked I think that for designers it's always good to hear the words (quotes) from designers as to what they thought of when they design or when they look at their own work as a lover of fashion I always want to know what the design said about each item or each icon dress or women who wore the dress etc. so to have quotes from designers like De La Renta are truly priceless to up coming designers and just fashion admires in general. Simply because the designer puts everything into their designs all the confidence that transfers into the confidence of the wearer. one of his famous quotes is

“The qualities I most admire in women are confidence and kindness.”

-Oscar De La Renta

Here are a few that we love

"Walk like you have three men walking behind you"

-Oscar De La Renta

“Work hard. Believe in yourself. It’s not the publicity that sells the clothes, it’s the woman.”

-Oscar De La Renta

“Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.”

-Oscar De La Renta

"My job as a designer is to make women feel their very best."

-Oscar De La Renta

And now for our favorite dresses and designs by Oscar De La Renta