The Dominican-born designer started out as an art student in Spain before he decided to make a career out of fashion. In 1965, he launched his own label, marking his entry on to New York's Seventh Avenue, the centre of the fashion industry in US.
For over 50 years, his clothes were worn by US first ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy to Hillary Clinton. Most recently, he designed the wedding gown for human rights lawyer and activist Amal Alamuddin for her wedding to actor George Clooney.
In this video tribute, former first lady Laura Bush talks about de la Renta's life and his work.