A designer. An icon. A friend. A loving husband and family man.
These are just a few of the titles that world-renowned fashion designer Oscar de la Renta earned throughout his lifetime and career.
The fashion legend died of cancer last week at the age of 82, leaving fans and friends across the world with heavy hearts but also leaving them with nothing but fond memories and beautiful works of art through his designs.
Most recently designing Amal Alamuddin’s wedding dress for her marriage to George Clooney, de la Renta was known for his creation of elegant, breathtaking, cascading gowns that starlets throughout the decades have worn for their most special, important moments.
Dressing every first lady from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama, the designer has been a part of fashion’s history for more than 50 years.
Dressing women for class and success was his No. 1 priority.
His mission was always to make women look and feel beautiful.
His mission was completed as he continued to dress and wow Hollywood’s biggest icons at every red carpet event.
Star after star praised him for his designs and expressed their condolences last week as the fashion industry said goodbye to one of its most illustrious ?members.
“The qualities I admire most in women are confidence and kindness,” de la Renta once said.
One of his famous quotes, this embodies everything that he hoped to instill in his designs and brand.
It is also the reason that so many appreciated him not only as a designer, but as a person.
First and foremost he analyzed and thought about the woman behind the clothes and then aimed to reflect her through his designs.
As the world remembers de la Renta, so many have commented not only on his signature designs but even more on the kind of man that he was.
He prided himself on creating usable looks for refined, empowered women and cared about the everyday woman, not just the fashion models on the runway.
Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, has commented on the attitude of her dear friend, writing, “He always said, ‘Accept your friends for who they are, not for who you want them to be.’ Oscar was everything you could want a friend to be.”
Wintour noted his undying spirit and positivity, something that everyone could use a little bit ?more of.
“He never once complained about his illness, always positive, always looking forward.”
So as we move forward with the week, take a cue from Oscar.
Stick to your passion and make a difference in the world, but more importantly, be a kind and gracious individual along the way.
Don’t let your work overpower the important things in life.
Never lose your sense of self, something de la Renta valued above most other things.
“Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable.
“Style is more about being yourself.”
