Oscar de la Renta
Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Oscar de la Renta still remains one of the most influential fashion designers in history. He became famous in the 60s for dressing Jackie Kennedy and dressed every first lady up until passing away from cancer in 2014. He is most recognized for his striking couture and ready-to-wear pieces worn by celebrities and royalty alike. Peter Copping took over the design house as creative director after de la Renta's passing, but recently left and there is still no replacement.
Image: Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta
Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera was born in Caracas, Venezuela and studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. In addition to graceful, elegant, timeless designs, Herrera also has impeccable personal style. She is also known for dressing first ladies, like Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama, and for her stunning bridal collections.
Image: Courtesy of Carolina Herrera
Isabel Toledo
Isabel Toledo was born and raised in Cuba and moved to New Jersey to go to high school. She then attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she studied fashion design among several other things. She's known for her cutting-edge, experimental designs and most recently created a line of fragrances for Lane Bryant.
Image: @toledox2
Narciso Rodriguez
Latino designer Narciso Rodriguez has been turning heads since attending the esteemed Parsons School of Design in New York City. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel Weisz and Claire Danes regularly wear his designs. He also launched a now iconic fragrance, for her, in 2003. To best sum up his talent, Anna Wintour once said: "No one but Narciso has ever made a simple line look more stunning."
Image: Courtesy of Narciso Rodriguez
Maria Cornejo
Originally from Chile, Maria Cornejo moved to London when she was 12 years old. She graduated from Ravensbourne in 1984, a time when designers like Vivienne Westwood were taking the design world by storm. In 1998, she opened Zero + Maria Cornejo on Bleecker Street in New York City, both an atelier space and retail shop where customers can buy her sculptural, streamlined designs.
Image: @zeromcornejo
Manolo Blahnik
Manolo Blahnik, the founder of the eponymous shoe brand, was born in Santa Cruz de la Palma on Spain's Canary Islands (his mother was Spanish, in case you were wondering!). On a trip to New York City, he had the chance to meet with Diana Vreeland, the then editor-in-chief of Vogue, to show her his set designs. She then went on to give him the most important piece of advice ever, stating, "Young man, make things, make accessories, make shoes." The rest is history and his shoes have been seen on hit TV shows like Sex and the City and worn by celebrities and royalty alike.
Image: Courtesy of Manolo Blahnik
Carlos Miele
Brazilian-born fashion designer Carlos Miele is constantly wowing fashionistas with his sexy Brazilian-influenced designs. Currently, his label can be found in over 30 countries worldwide. His frocks constantly grace celebrities on the red carpet and at award shows.
Image: @carlosmieleoficial
Whether you’re a true fashionista or not, chances are you’ve heard some of the biggest names in the fashion industry before from simply watching your favorite TV show or reading the news (because even the FLOTUS wears top designers these days!). What you may not have realized, though, is that many of the most influential designers — past and present — actually stem from Latin roots. And we’re talking the big dogs like Manolo Blahnik, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and then some. In case you need a little brushing up, check out the seven most influential Latin fashion designers ever.
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