Still in disbelief, iconic fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, lost his long battle with cancer yesterday at 82. From dressing first ladies to most recently, George Clooney’s bride Amal Alamuddin, the end to such an impressive if not enviable long career of this Dominican born designer most likely sent shockwaves throughout the fashion community, as they mourn his loss. At the start of his fashion career, he worked with Balenciaga + went on to win plenty of Cody awards, the fashion equivalent of the Oscars, along the way. But above all else, ODLR was part of the group of American designers which included Halston, Anne Klein, Bill Blass + Stephen Burrows, who raged war on French fashion design at the infamous 1973 ‘Battle of Versailles’. The American designers not only served style unlike France had ever seen before, with no elaborate sets, it was also a landmark show by breaking racial barriers in featuring eight African-American top models including Bethann Hardison.
This past Summer, as part of the final ‘Fashion Icon’ program at the 92Y hosted by Fern Mallis, de la Renta mentioned ‘to rest is to rust’ as his mantra, but now that he is at final rest, he will shine brighter than ever with such a legacy left behind.
Rest in peace Oscar, you will be missed terribly but never forgotten.