Oscar de la Renta remembered for red carpet, pop culture moments (photos)

by Lesley Kennedy · October 21, 2014

As word quickly spread Oct. 20 that Oscar de la Renta, the legendary fashion designer, had died at age 82, fans took to social media to pay their respects, hailing the man who dressed first ladies, celebrities, socialites and even the Boy Scouts, as a gentleman of great talent.

“There is much being said that his passing yesterday marks the end of an era,” Anna Wintour wrote in an essay on Vogue.com. “Not true. He was the most democratic man I knew and he would have lived happily and defined any era. He was happy dining with the rich and famous, for sure, but equally happy playing dominoes with his devoted staff. His designs reflected his extraordinary personality: optimistic, fun, sunny, romantic.”

Oscar de la Renta, shown in 2008, died Oct. 20 at age 82. Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

And those designs also made their way into references on the big screen, the small screen, in songs and on celebrity magazine covers. A few of our favorites:

“… But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis, it’s actually cerulean. You’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent, wasn’t it, who showed cerulean military jackets? And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin.” —Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada

“‘Cocktails at Tiffany’s calls for classic charm. Oscar de La Renta sleeveless silk full skirted dress with black patent leather bow belt.’ Now that is pure poetry.” —Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City, reading from Vogue

“What party is we goin’ to on Oscar day; ‘specially if she can’t get that dress from Oscar de la Renta, they wouldn’t rent her they couldn’t take the shame; snatched the dress off her back and told her, ‘get away.'” —Kanye West, Hell of a Life

“When I’m sitting with Anna, I’m really sitting with Anna; ain’t a metaphor punchline, I’m really sitting with Anna!; front row at Oscar de la Renta posture; ain’t a b–ch that could do it, not even my impostor.” —Nicki Minaj, Come on a Cone

Celebrities who wore Oscar de la Renta wedding gowns: Amal Clooney, Kate Bosworth, Katherine Heigl, Jenna Bush Hager

First ladies who wore Oscar de la Renta: Jacqueline Kennedy, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama

Celebrities who wore Oscar de la Renta on the Oscars red carpet: Amy Adams, Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Garner, Penelope Cruz, Diane Lane, Candice Bergen, Sandra Bullock, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Hudson

Favorite Oscar de la Renta red carpet looks

Actress Anne Hathaway arrives at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 27, 2011 in Oscar de la Renta. Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images

Actress Cameron Diaz arrives at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in shimmery Oscar de la Renta in 2010. Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Actress Kerry Washington arrives on the red carpet at the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2008 in Cannes, France in this Oscar de la Renta stunner. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Singer Taylor Swift poses in Oscar de la Renta during 2013 Toronto International Film Festival on Sept.r 9, 2013. Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Current coveted Oscar de la Renta designs