Diane von Furstenberg on life, love, and a wrap dress
One of the most important names in fashion for nearly 50 years, Diane von Furstenberg has long empowered women, with practical, feminine clothing, most famously embodied by her '70s wrap dress.
Diane von Furstenberg, the iconic fashion designer, has spent a significant portion of her life in Venice, Italy. At 79 years old, she sees Venice as her creative "stage" and a place where she finds inspiration. Known for her groundbreaking wrap dress, which debuted in 1974, DVF's design career took off when she was just 29 years old.
The idea for the wrap dress came to her while watching news coverage of the Watergate scandal, which featured a photo of Julie Eisenhower, daughter of President Nixon, wearing a wrap top and skirt. This image sparked the idea of turning the wrap top into a dress. By 1976, she had sold a million of these dresses, solidifying her status as a fashion icon.
Born in Brussels, Belgium in 1946, DVF's mother was a Holocaust survivor who recovered from being severely underweight before giving birth to her daughter. Despite her success, DVF's personal life has also been a subject of interest. She was married to Prince Egon von Furstenberg, with whom she had two children, but their marriage was not without its unconventional aspects, including an open relationship that included romantic encounters with Richard Gere, Warren Beatty, and Ryan O'Neal.
DVF's love life may seem unconventional, but she maintains that her marriage to media mogul Barry Diller, whom she married in 2001, was a genuine and passionate connection. At 80 years old, DVF reflects on her life and career, expressing that she is starting her "last act" and hopes to be remembered as someone who loved life and honored it in every way.
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