Balmain (fashion house) Pierre took over until 1992 working as director of ready-to-wear and haute couture. Possibly the most influential designer to take over at Balmain was Oscar de la Renta, who led the house between 1993 and 2002. Already a fashion veteran before joining Balmain, De la Renta brought a famous face to the brand Balmain. He lived in New York City most of his life, although he was born in the Dominican Republic and became a naturalized United States citizen in 1971. He fit into the Balmain design aesthetic, with an eye for detail and classic silhouettes. He, like Balmain, preferred
Françoise de Langlade The de la Rentas had homes in Manhattan, Kent, Connecticut, and Santo Domingo. She died of bone cancer in 1983. Françoise de Langlade Françoise de Langlade (1921 – June 17, 1983) was a magazine editor with Conde Nast Publications and the wife of fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1973. De Langlade was born in Paris, the daughter of an insurance salesman from Bordeaux, France, and a mother from Martinique. She was educated in Paris. She started her career in fashion with The House of Schiaparelli, which