Goodbye Oscar!

In my young journey as a jewellery designer I have been influenced by a number of designers, some notable and some others, not so commercially successful(but successful nonetheless). 

One of my popular design inspirations was the great Czar of fashion: Señor De La Renta. 

Oscar de la Renta, died Monday night at age 82 after a long battle with cancer.

image courtesy of Tomandlorenzo.com

image courtesy of Tomandlorenzo.com

His Latin-lover good looks, fascination with feminine style, strong color sense and impeccable social skills — a wonderful sense of humour among them — made him a court dressmaker to a large portion of the international set and a designer for First Ladies from the time of Betty Ford. 

He was a particular favorite of three of the last: Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush — and Michelle Obama recently donned one of his dresses at the White House event for Fashion students. 

image courtesy of Tomandlorenzo.com

While de la Renta could design clothes that were editorial darlings, his genius was in making women, regardless of their own intrinsic pulchritude, look and feel beautiful. Romantic, glamorous styles were his signature: tastefully extravagant, Paris-influenced, with an undercurrent of Latin pizazz. 

He was best-known for his designs for the Ladies Who Lunch, the likes of Babe Paley, C.Z. Guest and Marella Agnelli, along with a glittering constellation of other aristocrats and socialites, performers, broadcasters and top executives, who often became, not just customers, but friends. 

RIP to a true fashion icon!