Diane von Furstenberg is one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. The groundbreaking wrap dress flew off the shelves after its creation in the 1970s, launching von Furstenberg’s career and cementing her status as a cultural icon.
2024 has been a banner year for the designer: Not only is it the 50th anniversary of his most iconic work, it also marks the June 25 release of a documentary about his life and legacy on Hulu.
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First Marriage and Royal Titles
Following her wedding to Prince Egon von Furstenberg in 1969, Diane married a member of the former royal House of Furstenberg.
The Furstenberg family ruled their own country, and later the principality, in the present-day state of Baden-Württemberg. The country of Furstenberg was officially dissolved in 1806, and the founding of Germany occurred decades later. Today, the Furstenberg family still uses royal titles, but these are not officially recognized by the German government, which abolished all legal privileges of the nobility in 1919.
After marrying Prince Egon, Diane became Her Royal Highness Princess of Furstenberg. But although she was still married to Prince Egon, after the couple’s divorce in 1983, she abandoned the title of princess altogether, preferring to use the title Mrs.
During their marriage, Diane and Egon had two children: Alexander and Tatiana, although they were born with the titles of prince and princess respectively, although they do not use these titles today. Talita von Furstenberg, Alexander’s daughter and Diane’s granddaughter, sits on the board of directors of her grandmother’s company.
Diane remarried in 2001, marrying business executive Barry Diller.
Creation of the Wrap Dress
According to the designer, he thought about entering the fashion industry after marrying his first wife.
“As soon as I found out I was about to become Egon’s wife, I decided to have a career,” she told the New York Times in 1977. beyond its deserts.”
Diane von Furstenberg Through the Years
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Von Furstenberg officially introduced the wrap dress in 1974. Made from form-fitting yet breathable jersey, the silhouette was inspired by the wrap sweaters ballerinas wear over leotards. One million wrap dresses were sold within two years.
Framed with the slogan “Feel like a woman, wear a dress,” the wrap dress became a symbol of women’s empowerment amid the burgeoning second-wave feminist movement. Its versatility allowed it to be worn from day to night, as women performed household chores in exchange for labor.
Made without buttons or zippers, the wrap dress also represented the decade’s changing attitudes towards sexuality. Von Furstenberg once said, “Zips are a nightmare if you’re trying to sneak out without waking a sleeping man.”
The legend of the wrap dress lives on today: To celebrate its 50th anniversary, von Furstenberg released a now-sold-out collaboration with Target. Capitalizing on the popularity of sustainable dressing, the designer launched her brand’s own resale platform, ReWrap, in 2023.
Hulu Documentary
Von Furstenberg’s legacy is the center of a new Hulu documentary titled “Diane von Furstenberg: The Woman in Charge.” Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton, the new film, which will be released from June 25, is about the designer coming to the fore. “The Woman in Charge,” featuring interviews with Marc Jacobs, Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey, had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.
Diane von Furstenberg Through the Years
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Launch Gallery: Diane von Furstenberg Through the Years
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