Oscar de la Renta
| Oscar de la Renta | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 22, 1932 Dominican Republic |
| Nationality | Dominican/United States |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Awards |
CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award, American Fashion Critic's Award, Order of Juan Pablo Duarte, Order of Cristóbal Colón |
| Labels | Oscar de la Renta |
| Website | |
| www.oscardelarenta.com | |
Oscar de la Renta (born July 22, 1932 in Dominican Republic) [1] is one of the world's leading fashion designers. Trained by Balenciaga, he became internationally known in the 1960s as one of the couturiers to dress Jacqueline Kennedy. An award-winning designer, he worked for Lanvin and Balmain; his eponymous fashion house continues to dress leading figures, from film stars to royalty, into the 2010s. De La Renta is particularly known for his red carpet gowns and evening wear.
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[edit] Early years
De la Renta was born Oscar Aristides Renta in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father.[2][3] At the age of 18 he left the Dominican Republic to study in Spain, where he studied painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. He quickly became interested in the world of fashion design and began sketching for leading Spanish fashion houses, which soon led to an apprenticeship with Spain's most renowned couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga.[4] Later, de la Renta left Spain to join Antonio Castillo as a couture assistant at Lanvin in Paris.[5]
[edit] Career
In 1963, torn between designing custom clothing for Elizabeth Arden [6] as well as designing shoes and accessories, and designing ready-to-wear for Christian Dior-New York, de la Renta turned for advice to Diana Vreeland, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, saying that what he really wanted was to "get into ready to wear, because that's where the money is". Vreeland replied, "Then go to Arden because you will make your reputation faster. She is not a designer, so she will promote you. At the other place, you will always be eclipsed by the name of Dior."[7] De la Renta proceeded to work for Arden for two years before he in 1965 went to work for Jane Derby and launched his own label.[8] When Derby died in August 1965 Oscar de la Renta took over the label.[9]
He was one of the three major protégés of Baron de Gunzburg; the others were Bill Blass and Calvin Klein.[10]
From 1993 to 2002, Oscar de la Renta designed the haute couture collection for the house of Balmain (fashion house), becoming the first Dominican to design for a French couture house.[11] In 2006, the Oscar de la Renta label diversified into bridal wear. [12]
His clothes have been worn by many celebrities [13], including Gloria Guinness, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Reagan, Laura Bush [14], Jenna Bush, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands [15], Princess Madeleine of Sweden [16], Tina Fey [17], Anne Hathaway and Megan Fox.
De la Renta's ready-to-wear designs are available online [18] and from his own label stores.[19]
[edit] Other enterprises
In 1977, de la Renta launched his fragrance, OSCAR,[20] followed by an accessories line in 2001 [21] and a homewares line in 2002. [22]
In 2006 Oscar de la Renta designed Tortuga Bay, a boutique hotel at PUNTACANA Resort and Club. Tortuga Bay is a Leading Small Hotel of the World [23] and a member of Virtuoso.[24]
[edit] Awards, honors, philanthropic endeavors
[edit] Design awards
1n 1967 and 1968, de la Renta won the Coty award (the US fashion industry 'Oscars') and in 1973 was inducted into the Coty Hall of Fame.[25]
From 1973 to 1976, and from 1986 to 1988, he served as President of the CFDA.[26] He is also a two-time winner of the American Fashion Critic's Award and was inducted into the Fame in 1973. He was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1973.[27] In 1968 he got the Neiman Marcus Fashion Award[citation needed]
De la Renta's talents receive continual international recognition. Among them, he received the Council of Fashion Designers Designer of the Year Award in 2000 and in 2007 (tied with Proenza Schouler). In February 1990, he was honored with the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award.[28]
[edit] Other awards
The Dominican Republic has also honored him with the Order of Juan Pablo Duarte and the Order of Cristóbal Colón. De la Renta founded the Casa del Nino orphanage in La Romana[29] He has contributed extensively in the construction of a much needed school near his home at the Punta Cana Resort and Club in Punta Cana.[citation needed]
De la Renta serves as a board member of the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and WNET. He also serves on the boards of several charitable institutions such as New Yorkers for Children, the America's Society.
De la Renta is presently chairman of the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute. In 1993, de la Renta was recognized with an award by the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute at their annual gala dinner held in New York.[citation needed].[citation needed]
[edit] Marriages
In 1967, de la Renta became the third husband of Françoise de Langlade (1931–1983), an editor-in-chief of French Vogue who once worked for the fashion house of Elsa Schiaparelli. She previously was married to businessman Jean Bruère and diplomat Nicholas Bagenow. After her third marriage, Françoise de la Renta worked as a consultant to Elizabeth Arden, became a prominent hostess, had their Manhattan apartment decorated by Denning & Fourcade,[30] and later opened her own decorating business (among her clients were Florinda Bolkan and Helmut Berger). Of her approach to fashion, she once said, "Oscar is not my favorite designer–just one of them." As The New York Times noted after her death, "She was also widely credited for some of the successes of her husband, the fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. Although she was not active in his business, she attracted many of the rich and famous to his shows."[31][32]
In 1989, the designer married Annette Reed (born 1939). She is the former wife of American Heritage magazine publisher Samuel Pryor Reed and is the only child of German banker Dr. Fritz Mannheimer and his wife, Marie Annette Reiss.
De la Renta has stepchildren from both marriages. He also has an adopted son, Moises de la Renta.[33] His son-in-law Alex Bolen operates as Chief Executive Officer, step-daughter Eliza Bolen serves as Vice President of Licensing, and his son Moises de la Renta works in the Design Studio.[34]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=0&
- ^ Fashionmodeldirectory - Oscar de la Renta
- ^ Antonio, Luis. Splash Magazine, Oscar De La Renta vs. Carolina Herrera Fall 2007 Collections: Battle of the Latin Titans!
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=1&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=2&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=3&
- ^ Morris, Bernadine, "Diana Vreeland, Editor, Dies; Voice of Fashion for Decades", The New York Times, 23 August 1989, page A1
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=4&
- ^ Kent University Museum
- ^ Dupont, Ronald J, Jr. (1991). "Baron Nicolas de Gunzburg". The Vernon Stories of Jacobus Van Brug. http://www.vernonstories.com/. Retrieved 9 July 2006.
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=10&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=15&
- ^ http://www.instyle.com/instyle/fashiondesigners/keymoments/0,,20225968_oscar-de-la-renta_20236176,00.html
- ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/06/earlyshow/main2233193.shtml
- ^ http://royalfashionistas.com/2012/01/25/hrh-princess-maxima-of-the-netherlands-radiant-in-red-by-oscar-de-la-renta/
- ^ http://coolspotters.com/public-figures/princess-madeleine-of-sweden/and/clothing/oscar-de-la-renta-white-tab-silk-chiffon-sleeveless-dress#medium-1499365
- ^ http://www.fabsugar.com.au/Smoking-Hot-Tina-Fey-red-Oscar-de-la-Renta-SAG-Awards-2011-13558365
- ^ http://www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/Designers/Oscar_de_la_Renta
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=13&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=7&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=11&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=12&
- ^ http://www.lhw.com/
- ^ http://www.virtuoso.com/
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=5&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=6&
- ^ Vanity Fair
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=9&
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=8&
- ^ "In the de la Renta Fashion" by John Richardson, House & Garden, December 1985
- ^ Nemy, Enid, "Françoise de la Renta, 62, a Leader in Fashion", The New York Times, 18 June 1983, page 11.
- ^ Gruson, Lindsey, "Françoise de la Renta, Editor, Lauded by Kissinger at Mass", The New York Times, 14 September 1983, page B7.
- ^ Dynatsty from New York Magazine 21 May 2005
- ^ http://www.oscardelarenta.com/?folderId=/thehouse/#timelineId=17&
