The assignment was to create a stamp pane to honor world fashion designer Oscar de la Renta and feature his talent for creating gracious, delicately feminine clothes with innovative designs and detail that elevated American style and brought international attention to New York as a world leader in fashion.

The stamp designer decided that the best way to show de la Renta’s attention to detail and his luxurious and sophisticated style—bright colors, chic satin, feminine ruffles, complex fabrics and designs—was to feature 10 stamps with different photographic details from his exquisite gowns. The stamp pane also honors de la Renta with a stamp that features an evocative black and white photograph of the elegant designer.

The stamps were enthusiastically received by the fashion industry. Fashion icons and fans of de la Renta who attended the first-day-of-issue ceremony included Ralph Lauren, Anna Wintour, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. The issuance received widespread coverage by the press and the stamps were given excellent reviews. The issuance was a big seller with 75% of the stamps sold in one year.