Born the only son in a family of six daughters, Oscar de la Renta was pressured early on by his father to take over the family's insurance business in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. But the young man was more interested in the world of art than in the world of finance. Nevertheless, his father's business savvy was not lost on Oscar de la Renta. When, as an art student, de la Renta found that he was short on funds, he took a job sketching designs for a fashion company. Within 10 years, he was designing clothing with his own label and gaining a loyal clientele of wealthy socialite women. Today, he is the designer who dresses corporate businesswomen as well as first ladies. The Oscar de la Renta name is a virtual empire, one that resonates far beyond the fashion world.
1 A Monumental Decision 6
2 A Childhood on the Island 14
3 From Art to Fashion 24
4 Establishing His Label 35
5 New Beginnings 50
6 Famous Clients 61
7 The Look of de la Renta 76
8 Down to Earth 86
Chronology and Timeline 100
Notes 103
Bibliography 106
Further Reading 111
Index 113
Overview
Born the only son in a family of six daughters, Oscar de la Renta was pressured early on by his father to take over the family's insurance business in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. But the young man was more interested in the world of art than in the world of finance. Nevertheless, his father's business savvy was not lost on Oscar de la Renta. When, as an art student, de la Renta found that he was short on funds, he took a job sketching designs for a fashion company. Within 10 years, he ...