The New York-based designer, born in the Dominican Republic has passed away at the age of 82, after a long fight with cancer. He traveled to Madrid to study painting at the Academy of San Fernando when he was just 18 and was later enlisted by Cristóbal Balenciaga to sketch for him. Moving on to Paris, he worked at Lanvin, before finally settling in New York in the early Sixties where he set up his label.

Before passing away, the designer appointed his brand's first creative director earlier this month -- Peter Copping joined the New York brand from Nina Ricci, ending months of speculation about who might be De la Renta's chosen talent. His last gig included designing the wedding dress for Amal Alamuddin to Hollywood actor George Clooney.