Like Kurosawa or Fellini, he has been a master of his craft for so long that he owns a golden mean that consistently delivers symmetry, proportion and harmony and is therefore at liberty to ditch all constraints and break any rules he doesn't feel like obeying." That was The New York Times on Dominican Republic born, New York-based Oscar de la Renta, considered one of the most respected designers in the world.
De la Renta's design sensibility relies on the philosophy that all women – notwithstanding their age – want to look lovely. His clothes have been worn by many celebrities, including Jackie Onassis, Hillary Clinton, Beyoncé Knowles, Penélope Cruz and Megan Fox.
In 2004, de la Renta, then 72, handed over his chief-executive title to son-in-law Alex Bolen but still continues to design the collections and has begun to court a slightly younger, hipper customer, wooing her with dirndls, ornate embroidery, sumptuous fur, cheerful florals, and a dash of exotic Latin detail. |
| 1963 |
de la Renta begins apprenticing with Elizabeth Arden |
| 1965 |
Launches his label |
| 1977 |
Oscar, a de la Renta perfume, launched |
| 1980 |
Creates a fragrance for men, Pour Lui |
| 1993 |
Designs the haute couture collection of Pierre Balmain, becoming the first American
to design for a French couture house |
| 1995 |
de la Renta receives the Living Legend Award from the American Society of Perfumes |
| 2001 |
de la Renta accessories introduced |
| 2002 |
Debut of Intrusion, the fragrance for women; launches homeline,
an English Garden Furniture collection |
| 2004 |
Launch of an eyewear line, called O Oscar |
| 2009 |
Collaborates with Loulou de la Falaise for Oscar de la Renta Jewellery |
| 2011 |
Oscar de la Renta named the official tourism ambassador of Mexico City |
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