I first want to apoligize for the delay in my post this week, it has been a rather eventful one. I had the lovely wedding of my cousin Devin and his new wife Linn to attend. It just so happens that the desinger I'm focusing on today happened to be my designer of choice for the wedding (more on this tomorrow). Thank you Devin and Linn for providing an INCREDIBLE venue to not only wear an amazing dress but to have a wonderful time doing it. Now.... before we break into my wardrobe, I'd like to tell you a story...
The American dream is a lofty one, but from time to time a few great examples present themselves reassuring us that it is in fact an attainable one. Take for instance, the story of Diane von Furstenberg. The next few paragraphs may read more like a plot in a novel than a biography, but such was the life of the fascinating Belgian born women’s wear icon.
Act I: Diane Simone Michelle Halfin was born in Belgium, attended boarding school in Britain and later studied at the University of Geneva. She was a social butterfly with a commanding presence. By the age of 18 Diane had even won the affection of a Prince.
Enter: Egon von Furstenberg, Prince of Germany. The two wed in 1969, and Diane changed locations again settling down in New York City, Egon’s permanent residence. The young socialite quickly found herself among the most exclusive circles of the New York elite and became a Studio 54 regular. Diane was not content simply being a Princess, however. She was determined to have her own paycheck and her own identity. She needed to prove that she didn’t need the wealth or title of her husband to succeed. So, she did simply that.
Enter: The wrap dress, Diane’s claim to fame and eternal financial stability. The approximate 3 yards of jersey with no buttons or zippers lead her to the hearts of women everywhere (over 5 million of them to be exact), the cover of Newsweek magazine, and the leader of a brand she built from the ground up, on her own… all before the age of 30.
Dissolve to: Diane the hiatus years. Life in the fast lane took its toll on von Furstenberg. By 1985, with her marriage over, 2 young children, and a company that was growing wildly (and through licensing, out of her control) she had had enough. Diane retreated to Paris, France. Though she was no longer dominating the streets of New York’s fashion scene, she still had her work cut out for her. She spent her time focusing on being a mother, starting a publishing house, and writing a book. Although Diane herself was no longer a main feature in the media, her fashion had not left the limelight. The next generation of fashionistas the world over began scouring vintage shops for signature DVF wears. Inspiring new faces wearing her classic designs reignited a fire in Diane.
Act II: Diane conquers the Meat Packing District and the fashion industry once again. In 1997 Diane set up her new headquarters on West 14th Street in the newly trendy Meat Packing District. She fell in love with the area, and continues to actively help support the local community. As recent as April 29, 2011 she was awarded the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal by the Municipal Art Society of New York for her efforts to revitalize the district. One thing that didn’t need a lot of help revitalizing- the DVF name among the glitterati. Wave after wave of “it girls” made sure of that. It is no surprise that Michelle Obama, the ultimately empowered woman, has chosen DVF frocks on several occasions. In fact, it was the dress that started it all for Diane, was the same dress that Michelle Obama wore in a Christmas card sent out by the First Family in 2009. Some 30 years later that same dress was still the emblem of empowered women everywhere.
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| Image from Net-A-Porter.com |
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| Image from net-a-porter.com |
Cut to: Diane today, current President of the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), wife once more (to former Paramount CEO Barry Diller) and grandmother. A woman of 75 whose fierce confidence and vivaciousness could give any socialite in her 20’s a run for their money. She is a woman whose life experiences have made her strong, confident, and one fabulous designer. She may not have started out in fashion, but she clearly demonstrates she knows her way around a dress and possesses an extraordinary ability to inspire power, confidence, and beauty in anyone who wears them. Her passion for surfacing these qualities in women doesn’t just stop with her clothing. Diane has made it her philanthropic mission to empower women from all over the world. In 2010 she even started the annual DVF awards which honor female humanitarians. With the vitality and zest for life von Furstenberg possesses I don’t think I’ll be writing an “End Scene” to Diane’s impact on the fashion industry and women the world over anytime soon.
Check in tomorrow to see how DVF plays out in my own wardrobe....
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