Oscar de la Renta, famed fashion designer, died on Monday evening at the age of 82, surrounded by friends and family in his Connecticut home.

RIP Oscar de la Renta

Stepdaughter Eliza Reed Bolen, who serves as executive VP of Oscar de la Renta LLC, and her husband and CEO Alex Bolen released a statement Tuesday, honoring the late fashion icon. “He died exactly as he lived: with tremendous grace, great dignity and very much on his own terms,” they wrote.

The two promised to carry on the business in honor of de la Renta, but did not reveal the fashion designer’s cause of death: “Oscar’s hard work, his intelligence and his love of life are at the heart of our company. 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.”

Celebrities both in and outside of the fashion world are mourning de la Renta, who was a frequent designer to the stars. The fashion designer has been a favorite both on the runway and off for 50 years, and has designed dresses worn by First Ladies Hilary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama. He recently designed Amal Clooney’s wedding dress.

Celebrities Remember Oscar de la Renta

Fellow designer, Vera Wang expressed her sadness with posts on Instagram and Twitter, writing, “One of the most passionate, sophisticated, and iconic designers in fashion. To Annette, his beloved wife, and his children, our deepest most profound condolences. Oscar created a whole world of luxury, style and elegance all his own.”

Blast from the past… Mid 80's! #RIP #oscardelarenta

A photo posted by IMAN (@the_real_iman) on

You made this a dream come a True !! R I P TheGentlemanofFashion #Oscar de la Renta

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Article by Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.

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