Oscar De La Renta Dead: Legendary Fashion Designer Dies at 82 After 50-Year Career [VIDEO]
World-renowned fashion designer Oscar de la Renta has died at the age of 82, ABC reported on Monday night.
The designer, who launched in eponymous line almost 50 years ago, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. However, he told New York Magazine that he was "totally clean for the time being" in February 2013.
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De la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic in 1932 and moved to Madrid at 18 to study at the Academy of San Fernando. He started an apprenticeship for Cristóbal Balenciaga and then worked as a couture assistant for Lanvin in Paris.
In the early '60s, he relocated to the U.S. and began designing haute-couture dresses for the Elizabeth Arden clothing line. He started his own collection shortly after in 1965.
The award-winning designer went on to launch fragrances for both men and women, the Oscar de la Renta Home line and a bridal collection. Sarah Jessica Parker famously wore one of his wedding gowns in the first Sex and the City movie in 2008.
His designs have also been worn by many more notable stars and several first ladies, including Jaqueline Kennedy, Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.
"His name alone evokes elegance and timeless beauty. And his designs give each of us a chance to feel like we're special, too," Clinton said at the 2013 CFDA Fashion Awards.
Most recently, Amal Alamuddin wore an Oscar de la Renta gown to marry George Clooney in Venice in September.
Aside from fashion, de la Renta also devoted his time to charity and launched the La Casa del Niño orphanage in his home country.
He was married to the former editor of French Vogue, Francois de Langlade, for almost 20 years before she died in 1983. Shortly after his loss, de la Renta adopted a son, Moises de la Renta, from an orphanage in the Dominican Republic. He later wed philanthropist Annette Reed in 1989.
