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Diane von Fürstenberg is a Belgian-born American fashion designer and businesswoman who changed the face of women's fashion in the 1970s with her iconic wrap dress. The wrap dress, a simple and versatile garment that could be worn for different occasions, became a symbol of women's liberation and empowerment. Von Fürstenberg also built a global luxury lifestyle brand that reflects her vision of style, confidence, and independence.
A Princess with a Dream
Diane von Fürstenberg was born as Diane Simone Michelle Halfin in 1946 in Brussels, Belgium. She was the daughter of a Romanian-born Jewish father and a Greek-born Jewish mother who survived the Holocaust. She grew up in a privileged and cosmopolitan environment, attending boarding schools in Switzerland, England, and Spain.
She met Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, a German aristocrat and heir to the Fiat fortune, when she was 18 and studying economics at the University of Geneva. They married in 1969 and moved to New York City, where they became part of the jet-set society. They had two children, Alexandre and Tatiana, but their marriage soon fell apart due to their infidelity and incompatibility.
Despite being a princess, von Fürstenberg wanted to have a career of her own and to be financially independent. She had learned to sew from her mother and had an interest in fashion. She started designing clothes with the help of a friend who owned a factory in Italy. She created a few samples of dresses and tops that she brought to America to sell.
Diane von Fürstenberg at her 1969 Royal Wedding
The Rise of a Legend
One of the samples that von Fürstenberg made was a wrap top that she paired with a matching skirt. She realized that the top could be turned into a dress that would be easy to wear, flattering, and comfortable. She launched her first collection of wrap dresses in 1974 and sold over a million in the first two years.
The wrap dress was an instant hit among women of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds. It was praised for its simplicity, versatility, and elegance. It also reflected the changing role of women in society, who were entering the workforce and demanding more freedom and equality. The wrap dress became a staple in every woman's wardrobe and a symbol of von Fürstenberg's motto: "Feel like a woman, wear a dress."
Von Fürstenberg also became a celebrity in her own right, appearing on the cover of Newsweek magazine in 1976 with the headline "The Most Marketable Woman Since Coco Chanel." She expanded her brand to include cosmetics, fragrances, luggage, eyewear, and home furnishings. She also wrote several books, including an autobiography titled "Diane: A Signature Life."
Diane von Furstenberg styling a wrap dress in 1972
The Legacy of a Genius
Von Fürstenberg's fashion empire faced some challenges in the 1980s due to market saturation, competition, and personal issues. She moved to Paris for a few years and focused on other ventures, such as publishing and philanthropy. She returned to New York in 1997 and relaunched her brand with a new collection of wrap dresses that appealed to a new generation of women.
Von Fürstenberg continued to grow her brand globally, opening DVF boutiques in major fashion capitals and collaborating with various retailers and partners. She also became a prominent advocate for women's empowerment and leadership, using her platform to promote female entrepreneurship and support women's causes. She founded the DVF Awards in 2010 to honor women who have made positive impacts on their communities.
Von Fürstenberg is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful fashion designers of all time. She has received numerous awards and honors, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2005 and the Legion of Honor from France in 2016. She is also the chairwoman of the CFDA since 2006.
Von Fürstenberg once said: "I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to be." She has not only achieved her own dreams, but also inspired millions of women around the world to pursue theirs.
Diane von Furstenberg at the 2019 CFDA Awards
