Oscar de la Renta

In 1932, Oscar de la Renta was born on July 22nd in the Dominican Republic’s vibrant capital city, Santo Domingo. At age 18, Oscar headed to Spain to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid. While living there, he became captivated by Spanish culture, from the music and art, to the bullfights and flamenco, to of course… the fashion. Finally after years of working with some of the greatest couturiers in the world, Oscar finally established a house in his own right. In 1965, the Oscar de la Renta signature ready-to-wear label was created. Combining his Latin American passion for vibrant color, his European-trained eye for luxurious fabrics and embellishments, and his unique understanding for all things feminine, the label was instantly a favorite among the press and retailers. In 1967 and again in 1968, Oscar received the Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award, the then highest possible fashion accolade. Considered the “Oscars” of the fashion world, the prestigious Coty Awards helped further put Oscar’s name on the map. Five years later in 1973, Oscar’s talents and successes earned him a distinguished place in the Coty Hall of Fame.

Oscar received the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990. Never one to rest on his laurels, he continued working even harder to design and perfect clothes that meet the modern woman’s needs. Thus in 2000, he was recognized again by the CFDA as Womenswear Designer of the Year and in 2007, he was honored once more as the co-recipient of this Award. These acknowledgments from the industry throughout his career are especially meaningful to Oscar, who holds that the most important thing in fashion is staying power.

Today Oscar de la Renta is one of the leading design houses in the world. The company has seen an influx of great young talent, as it continues to grow and expand as a global brand. De la Renta has also brought in many of his own family members to help build continuity and a foundation for the label’s future success. 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. (Oscar de la Renta)