Perhaps it’s because he loves what he does. His clothing has skimmed the bodies of celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Beyoncé Knowles, Penélope Cruz, and Jackie Onassis. Known primarily for his beautiful dresses (from cocktail to formal), De la Renta is perhaps unrivaled when it comes to feminine flirty frocks.
It all began when de la Renta moved from his home in the Dominican Republic to Spain to study painting. Soon after, he found himself in the country’s top fashion houses where he spent his days sketching for designers.
Slowly cultivating an interest in fashion design himself, De la Renta took some classes and quickly moved to Paris. He worked his way up the fashion food chain with helpful advice from friends and loved ones, resulting in what many might call the perfect career. One of these friends was Françoise de Langlade, editor-in-chief of French Vogue, whom he eventually married. De Langlade was said to be a major cog in the wheel of De la Renta’s success, giving him career advice from the very beginning of their relationship. He also worked closely with Antonio Castillo at Lanvin. In 1965 he took a design position with an American company by the name of Jane Derby. If you’ve never heard of her before, that’s not surprising. She eventually passed away that same year and de la Renta took over the company, renaming it Oscar de la Renta.
The rest truly is history.
In addition to his womenswear line, de la Renta has branched out into menswear, accessories, fragrances and even a furniture line. Though he’s known to be a designer for women “of a certain age,” he has regained the attention of the younger set in recent years. Perhaps it’s because of the respect that he has for them. “We’re dealing with sophisticated customers. What’s most important to these women is individuality. I have to create things she’ll want to wear, no matter who she is,” he says.
In the past 43 years, de la Renta boasts many achievements and awards. Among them, are the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Womenswear Designer of the Year Award in 2000 and in 2007 (In 2007, he even tied with Proenza Schouler, perhaps the chicest design team of today), and in 1990, he was honored with the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award. He was even asked at one point to be the Dominican Republic Ambassador to the United States (an offer he refused). The list goes on and on.
As you’re working your way up the corporate ladder, perhaps you’ll remember the story of Mr. de la Renta and put in the extra effort, and maybe someday you’ll end up on that yacht sipping a margarita, calling out for your daily massage. Or perhaps you’ll be in a showroom somewhere—and like him—still working because you still love it just the same as you did in 1967.
