Oscar de la Renta is a fashion designer born in the Dominican Republic in 1932. Displaying an early aptitude for art, Oscar left for Spain, to study painting at Madrid's Academy of San Fernando. Fascinated by Spanish culture and with a growing interest in fashion design, Oscar began sketching for fashion houses and landed a position with leading couturier, Cristobal Balenciaga. In 1960, he moved to Paris and worked as a couture assistant at Lanvin.
After working in the glamorous world of haute couture for several years, Oscar's business sense led him in the direction of ready-to-wear. He left for the United States in 1963, taking a position with Elizabeth Arden (who then produced fashions as well as cosmetics.) In 1965, after earning some industry recognition through his work at Arden, Oscar was ready to launch his own fashion house.
Oscar's background in the Dominican Republic and his experience in the couture houses of Madrid and Paris express themselves in unique, colorful and feminine fashions featuring luxurious fabrics and attention to detail. The house experienced immediate success, and Oscar won the 1967 and 1968 Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards. He was installed in the Coty Hall of Fame in 1973, and that same year, began a three-year term as President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Oscar de la Renta became a United States citizen in 1971.
Oscar's success as a designer continued through the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1993, while continuing to offer clothing under his own brand, he accepted a position as head couturier at Balmain. He is the first American to design for a French couture house. His tenure at Balmain continued through 2002. Upon his return to America, the Oscar de la Renta brand expanded to include accessories, home furnishings and a retail division with stores around the world. Oscar de la Renta fashions have dressed some of the late 20th century's most famous, powerful and glamorous women, including three former First Ladies.
Oscar de la Renta's first fragrance, 1977's Oscar for women, was introduced and remains a worldwide best-seller today. A series of fragrances for men and women have followed. Oscar de la Renta fragrances are produced in conjunction with L'Oreal.
