DIANE VON FURSTENBERG - AMERICAN FASHION - DESIGNER FASHION GUIDES

Belgian-born designer Diane Von Furstenberg has amassed a vast history of accolades over the course of her life. Furstenberg is famous for her line 'DVF' and the coining of her 'wrap dress' in the 1970s. Furstenberg's mother was a prisoner of the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp. She herself stated that "fear is not an option" an ethos that Diane has carried throughout her career. The designer is an established player, who among many others has populated New York’s fashion arena for many decades now. Von Furstenberg boasts a multi-faceted career of philanthropy and entrepreneurship, as-well as being a renowned fashion designer.

Von Furstenberg's educational background lies in a study of economics at the University of Geneva. At University, she met her soon-to-be husband Prince Egon zu Furstenberg. The couple would quickly move to New York. During this period of time, Furstenberg would undertake an apprenticeship under Ferretti, construct a wedding dress under Dior and undertake her first other steps in a career within the fashion design industry. Her personal aristocratic success and status motivated her to expand into the world of fashion.

The early 1970s saw the launch of her initial collection, assisted by a hefty 30,000-dollar investment. Diane Von Furstenberg's interest in design had her producing basics at first, mainly shirts and dresses. Her first few collections grew to be incredibly popular as she started to combine tops, skirts and dresses into singular pieces. Diane's name grew to be household, premier and world-renowned especially due to her main invention. Her new creation was unprecedented, more than just a dress, a Zeitgeist that stood for her own personal long-lasting spirit.

Diane Von Furstenberg's wrap dress is one of the most iconic pieces of clothing of the 20th Century, although there is contention as to when the famous dress was invented. A vast majority of historians believe the dress was invented in 1972 or 1974. This dress would be developed into the centrepiece of Furstenberg's fame, fortune and overall legacy. She asserted, "I had no idea when I did that dress that it would change my life, and so many other people's lives".

Hilariously, she resented the fact that her name emerged whenever the style of a wrap dress is mentioned. It took Von Furstenberg more than 40 years to overcome and accept that she had truly created and popularised the wrap dress. The roots of her entire brand originate from the invention of this dress, and it’s very first campaign. Her ideals of effortlessness while maintaining style, permeated the face of the brand. A narrative of innovation was within every practice of the business.

The invention of the wrap-around jersey dress, popularised daywear and disco attire. Moreover, the wrap dress became the sole dress that women would wear to work.
Feminine and functional, simple and elegant, the dress became a garment that was nothing even close to menswear. The only business-laden elements of the dress stemmed from the original iteration's cuff and collars. Referencing Julie Nixon Eisenhower's wrap top and skirt outfit as seen on television, Diane saw the opportunity to combine the two pieces together in a deviating manner.

STORY BY JOSHUA CROASDALE
EDITED BY GRACE NEAVE
NARRATED BY PAUL G ROBERTS

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