Diane von Furstenberg first gave us the wrap dress.
And then she gave us everything else.
From comfort came fashion, as she saw it.
She certainly puts her money where her mouth is.
The designer has advocated for women all throughout her long career.
She’s even weighed in on the royal feud.
“Once upon a time two beautiful women married two kind and handsome Princes.
… Wishing them all Peace and Love for the new year!”
Yes, she’s all about peace, love, and fashion.
It meant independence and a life of her own.
She grew up in Belgium and moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where she met Prince Egon von Furstenberg.
At 22, von Furstenberg married said prince, and the pair moved to the United States.
Von Furstenberg toldHuffPostexactly how this career came to be.
She had been interning in Italy and her employer owned several factories.
“And then I turned the wrap top into a dress.”
And this is how the wrap dress came into being.
“I never modeled myself after anyone,” von Furstenberg toldHuffPost.
I haven’t changed very much."
In speaking of her wonderful innovation, von Furstenberg explained why the wrap dress stuck around so long.
“It’s more than just a dress; it’s a spirit,” von Furstenberg told theIndependent.
“The wrap dress was an interesting cultural phenomenon, and one that has lasted 30 years.
What is so special about it is that it’s actually a very traditional form of clothing.”
Simplicity was the key to its success.
The essence of the wrap dress is also the basis of von Furstenberg’s fashion ideology.
Trends don’t necessarily work for everybody.
What’s the key element?
Comfort, von Furstenberg toldHuffPost.
“Don’t wear something just to look younger.
It won’t work.
But wear something that you could put on and forget about.
Dress fabulously and forget about it!
“I always wanted to become a certain kind of woman and I became that woman through fashion.
It was a dialogue.
I would see that the wrap dress made those women confident, and made them act with confidence.”
Sexual freedom was timely, since shelaunchedthe dress in 1974.
“I had no idea it would be such a phenomenon.
It was so effortless, and it allowed women to go to work and still feel like women.”
It was a very empowering thing for me, and for them.”
She’s not a fan of cosmetic procedures.
and I can understand that," she toldHuffPost.
Von Furstenberg explained the few things she does do in this regard.
“So I do facials, but that’s it.
And it’s not that I don’t think that they should, I have nothing against it.
It’s just somehow, for me, I feel I would betray myself.”
This personal philosophy also impacts von Furstenberg’s design elements and her sway on the fashion industry.
She’s all about embracing imperfections.
She told theTelegraphthat the obsession with perfection is “ridiculous and dangerous.”
Von Furstenberg added, “The whole point about beauty is its imperfection.”
“I would like to see more black models and women from different ethnic backgrounds.”
Von Furstenberg also gets fired up about size inclusivity.
No," she added.
AsHarper’s Bazaarreported, her brand was the most requested by their clientele.
She looked so beautiful, I cried, von Furstenberg told the Times.
It’s no mistake that von Furstenberg was so successful when she worked with Williams.
Both Venus and her sister Serena Williams have been major forces of fashion in the athletic world.
Fashion is part of tennis, especially when you’re winning tournaments.
With Serena and me, it doesn’t overshadow us.
Our tennis says who we are."
So what did Venus think of her work with von Furstenberg?
It was obviously a win.
Von Furstenberg obviously knew who she was designing for, but Venus also took part in the process.
I can’t take all the credit, but I’ll take half the credit."
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is another notable woman who’s often sported von Furstenberg’s designs.
The designer even responded to criticism of Catherine dressing onservatively.
“Still, I like the fact that she seems to be very independent.”
These are all people whose style I like, and I also admire who they were or are."
That’s right, even the greats aren’t without celebrity inspo.
When speaking to theIndependent, the designer revealed, “Women inspire me.”
But in hindsight, the designer knew that the ebb and flow of business was normal.
“When you create something, it goes up and it goes down,” she explained.
“you’ve got the option to lose everything, but you never lose your character.”
As Business of Fashion noted, she bought back the license and came back with a vengeance.
A DVF gold wrap dress!"
“It is actually more fun the second time around.”
The exhibit explored prominent garments and designers who’ve shaped the world of American fashion.
“It establishes a modern vocabulary of American fashion based on its expressive qualities,” the Met explained.
Who’s designs better fit that description than von Furstenberg’s?
Von Furstenbergis no stranger to the Met, though.
The theme was “Fashion: Notes on Camp” and von Furstenbergdressedas the Statue of Liberty.
It’s perfect for the night’s theme!"
