Oscar de la Renta, who put the Dominican Republic on the international fashion map, died yesterday, Monday 20 October 2014 in his rural estate in Kent, Connecticut. He was 82 years old.
His death was confirmed by his wife, Annette de la Renta. He had been suffering from cancer for around ten years.
His last very photographed design was for lawyer Amal Alamuddin’s marriage to actor George Clooney in September. He was also able to present one last spring-summer 2015 collection in New York City.

De la Renta was born to Spanish parents in Santo Domingo in July 1932. He was the youngest of seven children and the only boy, and after finishing high school he went to Madrid to study art. There he discovered his talent for designing and joined Cristobal Balenciaga as an apprentice. He then moved to Paris to work with Antonio de Castillo and then Elizabeth Arden in New York.
He since became the favorite designer of several of the First Ladies of the United States such as Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. Although he spent most of his time in the United States, he had two homes in the Dominican Republic, one in Casa de Campo and the other in Punta Cana.
In addition to his wife, Annette, Oscar de la Renta is survived by his adopted son Moises, three sisters, three stepchildren and nine step-grandchildren.
News reports say that he will be replaced by Peter Copping who recently joined the Oscar de la Renta brand from Nina Ricci.
The Palacio de Bellas Artes in Santo Domingo is holding an exhibition through 15 November of his influence and impact on fashion and design over the past 50 years.
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