The 82-year-old, who most recently designed Amal Clooney's wedding gown for her nuptials to actor George Clooney, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

"He's such an elegant designer and such an elegant man," the 36-year-old barrister said.

His death was confirmed by his wife, philanthropist Annette de la Renta, who said the designer passed away at home.

While he will be lauded for his show stopping red carpet and evening gowns, de la Renta will be widely remembered for his early work as one of Jacqueline Kennedy's official couturiers throughout the 1960s and the gowns he designed for the late Princess Diana.

He also dressed Nancy Reagan in the 1980s and created inauguration dresses for former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.

de la Renta studied under Cristobal Balenciaga in Spain before moving to Paris and working for Balmain and Lanvin. He established his own label in 1965.

He was revered by models, including Sarah Murdoch who walked in his shows in the 1990s, and celebrities alike for his gentle nature and elaborate designs.

More recently he was praised for being an early adopter of social media and the internet age, with his official Twitter account, OscarPRGirl, being one of the first and most popular fashion accounts online.

He designs were introduced to a whole new generation of fashion lovers in the early noughties thanks to the popular TV show Sex and the City. An entire episode of the series' final season was dedicated to Carrie Bradshaw's obsession with a hot pink, black patent belted cocktail gown she saw featured in a magazine.

According to The New York Times fashion editor Cathy Horyn, during the past decade de la Renta's business grew 50 per cent and earned more than $150 million in sales revenue. During that time, as well as undergoing treatment for cancer, he was a favourite of New York socialites and Hollywood starlets alike, including Amy Adams and Sarah Jessica Parker, who wore his creations to numerous awards ceremonies

Coincidentally just last week de la Renta officially named ex-Nina Ricci designer, Peter Copping as his creative successor at his eponymous label.

"I'm very happy Peter has agreed to join us. He is a great talent and along with our shared design sensibilities, we both have a deep curiosity about the wider world, from music and art to architecture and gardens," the Dominican-born, New York-based designer said.

Copping's first collection will be shown at New York Fashion Week in February.