"I wanted to be an independent woman, a woman who could pay her own bills, a woman who decides for herself - and I became that woman"
- Diane von Furstenberg
Her Royal Story
Diane Von Furstenberg was born on the last day of 1946 in the Belgian capital, as Diane Simone Michelle Halfin. Her mother, a Greek Jew who survived Auschwitz, was always presented as Diane's greatest authority. It was she who taught her daughter how to be fearless and to find positives in every situation. The traumatic wartime experiences of her mother were for Diane an inspiration to become a strong and independent woman, who takes the world by storm, with a smile on her face.
She spent her early school years in England, Spain, and Switzerland. In 1965 she was accepted to the University of Madrid, from where she later moved to Geneva in Switzerland to study economics. It is there where she met her prince charming, precisely German Prince Eduard Egon zu Furstenberg, one of the heirs to the Fiat fortune. Her calling for fashion and design manifested after finishing her studies, during an internship in the Italian fabric factory Angelo Ferretti. Working with materials, colors, and cuts inspired her to create her first designs, in which she utilized silk jersey from Ferretti.
In 1969 she married Prince Egon and moved to New York. From that moment on, she could lead a royal life as the wife of her incredibly wealthy husband. However, Diane herself admits that the promise of a comfortable life motivated her only to start her career and become an independent woman. Exactly as her mother taught her.
New York, new life, new dress!
The Furstenberg marriage did not last long - they separated in 1972. Diane describes this moment in her life as a new, wonderful beginning: "Usually fairy tales end with a girl marrying a prince. My fairy tale began when my marriage with a prince ended." It was in that year when Diane created her most recognizable design - the wrap dress, which grew into a symbol of women's fight for emancipation. She thought of the design when she saw Julie Nixon Eisenhower on TV, wearing a wrap top and a skirt from her collection. It was then when she thought that her collection needs something that would naturally combine these two elements. Three years later, the wrap dress from DVF was being produced on a massive scale - over 15,000 pieces a week!
Why did the wrap dress become a symbol of female strength? Because it could be worn by any woman, regardless of age, skin color, height, weight, silhouette, or occasion. It works great as a formal business attire, but also serves its purpose as a comfortable casual outfit for every day. Made from high-quality jersey, the dress was universal and timeless, and its phenomenon has been lasting for over 40 years. In the meantime, over 4 million wrap dresses have been sold worldwide. Diane explains the success of her project with its very traditional form, which she compares to a kimono or a toga.
DVF Kingdom
Diane von Furstenberg owns a powerful fashion brand DVF, which specializes not only in women's clothing. It is a true lifestyle brand, offering luxury ready-to-wear clothes and a line of accessories, such as shoes, bags, leather goods, and jewelry. The designer, creating her practical fashion, focuses on conveying timeless values. A woman wearing DVF is associated with strength and independence, but also comfort, lightness, and sensuality. The style of her collections reflects her positive attitude towards life - classical and timeless forms are adorned with vibrant, dynamic patterns that suit women of all ages.
Von Furstenberg is a true renaissance woman, who continuously follows new trends - she was the first designer to use Google glasses on the catwalk. In 2005, she was honored with a CFDA award for lifetime achievement, and since 2015 she has been the chairwoman of the organization. DVF is a symbol of success and empowering women to achieve their life goals. In 2014 her reality show "House of DVF" premiered, where in front of the audience she searches for brand ambassadors and the style of DVF.
