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The Oscar of oscars

In this Oct. 13, 2011 file photo, Oscar de la Renta attends the Cinema Society premiere of "The Skin I Live In" in New York. The designer, De la Renta, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82. (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)
In this Oct. 13, 2011 file photo, Oscar de la Renta attends the Cinema Society premiere of "The Skin I Live In" in New York. The designer, De la Renta, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82. (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)

Oscar de la Renta, fashion designer and celebrity among stars, died at his Kent, Conn. home. He was 82.

The designer had battled cancer for nearly eight years, but continued to dress famous women: Sarah Jessica Parker, Amy Adams,  are two of the glamourous women who wore his creations. George Clooney’s bride, Amal Alamuddin, wore a de la Renta gown at their recent Venice nuptials.

Oscar de la Renta, born in the Dominican Republic, went to Madrid to study art where he spent time drawing clothes for newspapers and fashion designers.  When the wife of John Davis Lodge, the United States ambassador to Spain, saw some of his sketches, she asked de la Renta to design a coming-out dress for her daughter.  The daughter and the dress made the cover of Life magazine. Soon de la Renta was working in Paris at Christian Dior.

In the last eight years, his business grew 50 percent to $150 million in sales. He dressed socialites and first ladies.   

Oscar de la Renta is survived by his wife, Annette.

(S-R photo: Oscar de la Renta Oct. 13, 2011)

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.