Fashion: Fashion Says Farewell to One of the Greats

On October 21, fashion lost a renowned designer.  Oscar De La Renta, who put in so much work for about fifty years, passed away surrounded by many friends and family.  It’s not clear how he passed, but close family and friends said that he was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and never was “clean.”

Born July 22, 1932, in the Dominican Republic, the only son of seven children, De Le Renta always had a love for fashion.   At 18 years old, he left for Spain to go to the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid.  He’s always added an “exotic flavor” to his designs. 

Soon he was discovered by the wife of the U.S. ambassador of Spain, and his career took off.  The dress he designed for her daughter was shown on the cover of Life magazine.  His career started booming in the 60s.

Since then, he has gained much respect as a great innovator around the world.  Many celebrities from Jennifer Lawrence to Amal Clooney to Kerry Washington have worn his creations. 

“The fashion business says goodbye to a mentor, a legand & an icon,” designer Kenneth Cole tweeted Monday night. “He defined a standard we can only aspire to.”

In other news, more than $750,000 was raised this week at the North York General Foundation’s Heart Fashion Event or Heart of Fashion event in Canada.  This is said to be one of the largest care programs here.

It was held at Town Square Shops at Don Mills with more than 500 guests enjoying an evening of a runway show, cocktail party, entertainment and more throughout the evening. Designers like Michael Kors and many Canadian designers were part of the runway show. 

This great cause raised money for BMO Financial Group Breast Diagnostic Centre.  This kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month in a great way.  One in nine women in Canada are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.  The hospital will amp up their technology by Spring 2015. 

Fashion is used all over the world in great ways and affects everyday life.  People express themselves in different ways, and fashion speaks through them in that manner.  People can evolve fashion anyway the way they want and make it their own. 

As Ralph Lauren has said, “Fashion is not necessarily about labels.  It’s not about brands; it’s about something else that comes within you.”