A fashion icon. A fashion legend. According to an article on cnn.com, often described as the “sultan of suave,” Oscar De La Renta died Monday, October 20, 2014, at age 82. He dressed Hollywood stars, multiple American first ladies including, most recently, Michelle Obama and, Amal Alamuddin, who wore an Oscar de la Renta- designed wedding gown when she married George Clooney.

He was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and was the only male of seven children. He studied abstract art at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid and discovered his passion was fashion. Early on in his career, he was blessed to work at an apprenticeship with Cristobal Balenciaga and the legendary couture house of Lanvin in France. By the mid-1960s, he was in New York City working for Elizabeth Arden couture and in 1965, he launched his own label.

De la Renta is known for creating beautiful eveningwear, exquisite embroidery work and rich colors. A few notable gowns include the pink feathered dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker to the 2000 Emmy Awards when she was nominated for her role in “Sex in the City,” a navy silk dress Oprah Winfrey wore at the 2010 Met Ball and my favorite, a fiery red, floral embroidered gown Tina Fey wore to the 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

De la Renta leaves behind his second wife and a son.

*I do not own the rights to the photo featured in this post*