Oscar de la Renta will follow in the footsteps of Valentino and Karl Lagerfeld by receiving the prestigious Artistry of Fashion award on September 12, 2012.

Organized by The Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York every September, the Artistry of Fashion award has become a key date in the style calendar and signposts the beginning of Fall Fashion Week.

The creator’s previous gongs include The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)’s Lifetime Achievement Award back in 1990.

Despite decades of success, de la Renta continues to be shocked by industry rewards. “I am always surprised by any honor,” he told WWD.

Valerie Steele, director of The Museum at FIT, praised de la Renta for placing American designers on the world map. “With Balmain, he was the first American to be asked to design for a French house,” she explained.

The Couture Council is a membership group committed to supporting The Museum at FIT, where adherents can enjoy access to its special events throughout the year.