Oscar de la Renta needles actors and athletes who become designers

NEW YORK (AP) - Designer Oscar de la Renta may be a celebrity favourite, but the feeling isn't mutual when it comes to stars and athletes who want to delve into fashion design.

"Today you can hit a good tennis ball and be a fashion designer," said Mr de le Renta in an interview on Wednesday. "Today you can be a movie star and if your last movie didn't do too well, you become a fashion designer. But you know it's craft that you learn. It's craft of passion." Mr De la Renta's celebrity pals, including Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters and Sarah Jessica Parker, were on hand to show their support on Wednesday as The Fashion Institute of Technology presented him with the 2012 Couture Council Award for Artistry.

"It's interesting to me that he dresses the possible first lady, Mrs Romney. He dresses Mrs Hilary Clinton. He is bipartisan, non-denominational, just wonderful clothes," said Walters before finding her seat at de la Renta's table for the afternoon soiree at Lincoln Center.

Mrs Ann Romney, wife of the Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, donned a bold red Oscar de la Renta dress last week during her speech at the Republican National Convention.