Oscar de la Renta: Romance on the runway

FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2008, file photo, designer Oscar de la Renta is applauded after the presentation of his fall 2008 collection during Fashion Week in New York. The designer, who died Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, at 82, shaped American couture half a century ago when it emerged as a serious rival to European fashion designers. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

FILE - In this May 5, 2014, file photo, Sarah Jessica Parker attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" in New York. The designer, who died Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, at 82, shaped American couture half a century ago when it emerged as a serious rival to European fashion designers. His specialty was evening gowns, and celebrities from Penelope Cruz and Parker to former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton wore his creations. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 27, 2005, file photo, Spanish actress Penelope Cruz, in Oscar de la Renta, arrives for the 77th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The designer, who died Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, at 82, shaped American couture half a century ago when it emerged as a serious rival to European fashion designers. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - In this June 3, 2014 file photo, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, listens as Oscar de la Renta speaks on stage at the 2013 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall in New York. The designer , de la Renta, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2005, file photo, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave to the crowd after dancing at the Constitution Ball at the Washington Hilton Hotel during the 55th Presidential Inaugural celebration in Washington, D.C. The designer, who died Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, at 82, shaped American couture half a century ago when it emerged as a serious rival to European fashion designers. His specialty was evening gowns, and celebrities from Penelope Cruz and Sarah Jessica Parker to former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton wore his creations. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Designer Oscar de la Renta and Queen Sofia attend a private preview of the exhibition "BALENCIAGA: Spanish Master" at Queen Sofia Spanish Institute on November 17, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Queen Sofia Spanish Institute) (2010 Getty Images)

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 20: Designer Oscar de la Renta and Eliza Bolen attend Telva Fashion Awards 2008 photocall at Palace Hotel on October 20, 2008 in Madrid, Spain (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) (2008 Getty Images)

Oscar de la Renta, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain attend the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute 2013 Gold Medal Gala at The Waldorf=Astoria on November 19, 2013 in New York City. (2013 Getty Images)

In this May 3, 2010 file photo, Oprah Winfrey, right, and Oscar de la Renta arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala, in New York. The designer, de la Renta, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82.(AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 03: (L-R) Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, and Graydon Carter attend the 2014 Couture Council Award Luncheon Benefit for the Museum at FIT honoring Carolina Herrera at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on September 3, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for FIT Foundation) (2014 Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: Oscar De La Renta(L) and Chelsea Clinton attend the 2014 Carnegie Hall Medal Of Excellence Gala Honoring Oscar De La Renta at The Plaza Hotel on April 24, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images) (2014 Getty Images)

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2012 file photo, fashion designer Oscar de la Renta watches as the final model walks the runway during the presentation of his Spring 2013 collection at Fashion Week in New York. The designer de la Renta, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - This Sept. 11, 2012 file photo released by Starpix shows designer Oscar de la Renta, right, and model Karlie Kloss backstage before the presentation of the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2013 collection sponsored by Revlon at Fashion Week in New York. The designer, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82. (AP Photo/Starpix, Amanda Schwab, file)

FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2013 file photo, Designer Oscar de la Renta, right, and guest attend the Vanidades Icons of Style Awards, in New York. De la Renta, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 05: Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Designer Oscar de la Renta attend the 2012 Couture Council for the Museum at FIT Award for Artistry of Fashion to Oscar de la Renta at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on September 5, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 24: Designer Oscar de la Renta (L) and Anna Wintour attend Giorgio Armani One Night Only NYC at SuperPier on October 24, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Giorgio Armani) (2013 Getty Images)

In this May 7, 1981, file photo, fashion designer Oscar de la Renta and actress Dolores del Rio are pose at the Casita Maria Benefit dinner at the Pierre Hotel in New York where the two were honored. The fashion designer, a favorite of socialites and movie stars alike, has died. He was 82. (AP Photo/File)

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 08: Designer Oscar de la Renta and Barbara Walters attend Woman's Day Red Dress Awards & Campbell's AdDress Your Heart at Jazz at Lincoln Center on February 8, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Campbell's) (2011 Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 03: (L-R) Seth Meyers, Anna Wintour, and Oscar de la Renta attend the 2014 Couture Council Award Luncheon Benefit for the Museum at FIT honoring Carolina Herrera at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on September 3, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for FIT Foundation) (2014 Getty Images)

De la Renta's last fashion coup came in September 2014, when George Clooney's bride, the human-rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, wore a bridal gown designed by him.