Oscar de la Renta, a fashion guru, died, age 82. [Photo provided to China Daily]

It's been a big year－we've lost a legend, bought a Spice Girl's old clothes and been confused by a supermodel's tangled love life, and that's just the start ...

1 The world lost a fashion legend: Oscar de la Renta's death shocked the world in October. The designer had succumbed to cancer, which he had been battling intermittently since 2006. "He died exactly as he lived: with tremendous grace, great dignity and very much on his own terms. While our hearts are broken by the idea of life without Oscar, he is still very much with us. Oscar's hard work, his intelligence and his love of life are at the heart of our company," said the touching tribute released by his family. "All that we have done, and all that we will do, is informed by his values and his spirit. Through Oscar's example we know the way forward. We will make Oscar very proud of us by continuing in an even stronger way the work that Oscar loved so much." Just six days before his death de la Renta had announced his successor, British designer Peter Copping.

The fashion world also mourned the loss of Central Saint Martins' director of MA Fashion Professor Louise Wilson, who passed away unexpectedly in her sleep at the age of just 52 in May; designer L'Wren Scott, who committed suicide in March, and acerbic-tongued comedienne and Fashion Police host Joan Rivers.

Not to be forgotten is Lauren Bacall, the silver screen siren who passed away on August 12. We celebrated her life with a look at her style in pictures.