Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesWhile many struggle to break into the fashion world, that certainly wasn't the case for Oscar de la Renta, who moved to Spain from his native Dominican Republic at 18 to study painting and ended up sketching for Balenciaga after realizing his love of design.
Not too shabby for a first-time fashion gig, right?
Neither was his second stint as a couture assistant at Lanvin shortly thereafter. Not one to forget the fact that designers once took a risk on him, the designer is now paying his good luck forward by giving fashion outcast and disgraced ex-Dior designer John Galliano a second chance by hosting him at his New York Studio.
If Galliano's lucky, de la Renta's willingness to take a chance on him will pay off as it did for the now established designer. His fancy training by some of the world' best couturiers in the world definitely bled into the elegantly embellished gowns he went on to create for his eponymous label, as did his upbringing in the Dominican Republic, which he sites as inspiring his colorful collection of ultra-girly gowns.
We've definitely seen A-listers hit the red carpet in a rainbow array of head-turning hues in his designs, like Lea Michele in a salmon pink one shoulder at the 2011 Golden Globes, as well as Jessica Alba in a melon-colored strapless and Zooey Deschanel in a red-hot ball gown at this year's Globes.
Check out more celebrities who have reached for his unapologetically feminine creations with dainty ruffles and dramatic mermaid tails for ravishing red carpet moments!