Dominican fashion designer Oscar de la Renta died at his home Monday evening in Connecticut. According to a handwritten statement signed by his stepdaughter Eliza Reed Bolen and her husband, Alex Bolen, he was surrounded by family and friends at that time.
The cause of his death was not specified but a heartfelt message was included, "While our hearts are broken by the idea of life without Oscar, he is still very much with us. Oscar's hard work, his intelligence and his love of life are at the heart of our company," the statement said. "All that we have done, and all that we will do, is informed by his values and his spirit. Through Oscar's example we know the way forward. We will make Oscar very proud of us by continuing in an even stronger way the work that Oscar loved so much."
ABC News reports that de la Renta was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. Dela Renta shared his thoughts about his illness at New York City’s 92Y “Fashion Talk” series, “Yes, I had cancer. Right now, I am totally clean. The only realities in life are that you are born, and that you die.” He said. “ We always think we are going to live forever. The dying aspect we will never accept. The one thing about having this kind of warning is how you appreciate every single day of life” he added.
For more than four decades,he has dressed celebrities, stateswomen and fashionistas of all kinds. De la Renta was a living legend during his time, designing elegant and timeless pieces for Jackie Kennedy, Jennifer Garner, Oprah Winfrey, Anne Hathaway and many more. His most recent famous moment came when he designed Amal Clooney's wedding dress just last September.
