Oscar de la Renta, born in 1935 in the Dominican Republic, is a Dominican-American fashion designer, who is known for his luxurious and feminine designs. He was named after Oscar Wilde, the writer. His father died when he was nine years old. His mother, who had been working as a maid, raised him and his sister at great sacrifice to support her two sons
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She sent De la Renta to the prestigious Academia Santa Lúzia in Rio de Janeiro at age 15. At age 16 he entered the School of Architecture at Escola Nacional Gama Filho and graduated with honors at age 19. He later designed furniture and worked for several architects before establishing his own firm in 1975.
De la Renta has received numerous awards including the LVMH Prize, the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award for Fashion Excellence, the César Award for Best Costume Design, and one honorary degree from Pratt Institute. He has also won the Italian National Award for Ecclesiastical Art, the French City of Nice Award for Artisan Craftsman of the Year, and was named a Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by UNESCO's International Council on Monuments and Sites.