Oscar de la Renta rose from the fashion houses of Spain to become a world-wide brand, his evening dresses worn by celebrities and royalty.
His gowns were coveted and timeless. Amal Alamuddin wore De la Renta when she married George Clooney in Venice. Jacqueline Kennedy wore De la Renta.
De la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic and studied painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid before starting work in fashion houses in Spain. After stints under Cristóbal Balenciaga and Antonio del Castillo, De la Renta landed at Arden and then Jane Derby, where he launched his own label in 1965.