A host of fashion heavyweights attended a private funeral service for Oscar de la Renta on Monday. Designers Valentino, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Diane von Furstenberg and Tommy Hilfiger all turned out to say goodbye to the legendary fashion maestro. They were joined by actors Hugh Jackman and Matthew Broderick, who didn't appear to be with his wife Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as Chelsea Clinton, Vogue editor Anna Wintour and renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.
Supermodel Karlie Kloss also attended the memorial service. Mr. De la Renta passed away at the age of 82 last month. The creative genius, renowned for designing showstopping ball gowns and dressing the stars, died after a lengthy battle with cancer.
"While our hearts are broken by the idea of life without Oscar, he is still very much us. Oscar's hard work, his intelligence and his love of life are at the heart of our company," read the statement released. "All that we have done, and all that we will do, is informed by his values and his spirit. Through Oscar's example we know the way forward. We will make Oscar very proud of us by continuing in an even stronger way the work that Oscar loved so much.'" The Dominican Republic-born designer started out his career dressing Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s, then designed a dress for Diana, Princess of Wales, before going on to create dresses for practically all of Hollywood's elite. His swan song was designing Amal Clooney's bridal dress for her wedding to George Clooney. Oscar's final catwalk collection, which was to be his last before British designer Peter Copping took the helm of the fashion house, centred around florals and the joyous elements of spring. The presentation took place at New York Fashion Week in September. Oscar was born in 1932 to a wealthy family in the Dominican Republic. He learned his trade as an apprentice of Spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga before working for Lanvin and Balmain in Paris. He then launched his own ready-to-wear label in New York in 1965.
