Diane von Furstenberg: ‘aging proves that you have already lived’


I guess it’s documentaries-on-fabulous-women season and someone forgot to tell me, because not only did Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story premiere at Tribeca this year, so did a new doc on the impossibly cool Diane von Furstenberg. And unlike Liza, we don’t have to wait to see the film on Diane! Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge is streaming now on Hulu and Disney+, the release timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of her iconic DVF wrap dress. People Mag just interviewed Diane to talk about the anniversary, the film, her best style tip, and the markings of a fully lived life:

Fifty years after Diane von Furstenberg created the wrap dress, the cultural luminary’s presence in the fashion industry is still as palpable today.

To celebrate her creation’s milestone anniversary, von Furstenberg, who’s now cochair of her eponymous brand, recently launched a capsule collection featuring the silhouette in a new Crossword print. She also designed limited-edition sunglasses with Italian eyewear brand L.G.R. And, in addition, she launched a whopping 200-piece assortment with Target that ranged from apparel and accessories to home decor, including made-to-order furniture, that naturally sold out.

As she looked back on the history of the piece — and ahead to the premiere of her documentary, Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, during a recent chat with PEOPLE, the legendary designer shared that when she first thought up the garment, she hadn’t imagined it’d have such a lasting impact.

“I didn’t know when I made that little dress that it was going to be a social phenomenon and that people would be buying it 50 years later,” she says of her famous design.

“I made the wrap dress, but really the wrap dress made me. It just happened. I owe her as much as she owes me,” continued the author and philanthropist, 77.

Von Furstenberg added that the dress is “a vehicle” for her to honor women. “I care about [her],” von Furstenberg says.

Of its longtime popularity, she surmises, “I think it’s successful because it makes a woman feel confident.”

Von Furstenberg, who says she sees her wrap dress on women when she’s out and about “all the time,” shares that her best style tip is “be yourself.”

She continues, “It’s not trying to be who you are not. Embrace your imperfections. If you do, you turn them into assets. I can’t say it enough: There’s nothing more becoming than that.”

In the documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 5 and debuted on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally on June 25, von Furstenberg can be seen gracefully climbing into her sink to get a close-up of her skin while moisturizing her bare face.

It’s a striking moment that sums up her take on beauty and aging.

“I never had my hair or makeup done for [the documentary],” von Furstenberg explains.

“The point is: I think that people are too afraid of aging. But aging is a good thing. Aging proves that you have already lived. I never thought I would get to be my age. I used to think I was going to die by the time I was 30 because I had accomplished so much by the time I was 28. That’s why I say, instead of asking, ‘How old are you?’ you should ask, ‘How long have you lived?’ And then, all of a sudden you answer with pride.”

[From People]

I cannot recommend this documentary enough. Admittedly, I’m easy to lure in with a panoply of bright, bold patterns. And in a brisk 97 minutes? Color me happy. But I actually didn’t know much of anything about DVF, and found myself utterly captivated not only by her story, but by her telling of it. She is so direct, and clear about herself. I imagine some of that comes with age, or excuse me, how long she’s lived. Yet after seeing the film, I also got the feeling that Diane has always had a knack for really knowing herself and reveling in that, and it’s like she’s made it her mission in life to pass on that wisdom: be yourself! Of course, not all of us were dealt the cards of somehow being effortlessly regal yet simultaneously casual like DVF, but don’t let me spoil a profound statement about celebrating oneself. One moment from the doc that I loved (it happens early on, so not a spoiler!) was Diane saying, “It wasn’t that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I wanted to be in charge, and fashion ended up being the way I could do that.” Here’s to women being in charge. Or as I call it, the natural order of things.

Embed from Getty Images

photos credit: Cat Morley / Avalon, James Warren / Bang Showbiz / Avalon, Caroline Torem-Craig / Avalon

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

17 Responses to “Diane von Furstenberg: ‘aging proves that you have already lived’”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Eleonor says:

    That dress honours women it’s true, because it doesn’t matter your shape or size, it has the power to make you look good !

    • CatMum says:

      yes! and it fits at any size! the one garment I can always count on, whether I’m gaining or losing.

      she actually sold her label at one point, which meant she couldn’t legally design under her own name! this is why, if you’re launching a fashion label, you shouldn’t use your legal name for the name of it.

      and

      wrap dresses forever! I covet the long leopard one in the photos. I would rock the hell out of that!

  2. Eurydice says:

    I don’t remember DVF ever not being awesome.

  3. Karen says:

    She was wonderful on Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast ‘Wiser Than Me’.

  4. Soapboxpudding says:

    Definitely watching the doc now. This quote is wonderful “That’s why I say, instead of asking, ‘How old are you?’ you should ask, ‘How long have you lived?’ And then, all of a sudden you answer with pride.”

    • SA says:

      I stumbled across the doc last week. Highly recommend and now I love her even more. I knew she married a German royal but unaware her mom was a holocaust survivor(?).

    • BeanieBean says:

      It’s funny, but I never think to ask someone, ‘how old are you?’ I never think about a person’s age when interacting with them, in whatever context. It’s not relevant. Nor am I guesstimating in my head how old a person is, it’s just not something I wonder about. 🤷‍♀️

  5. SpankyB says:

    She’s wearing my wedding dress. That black and white dress with the pink jacket. My husband and I ended up doing a quickie wedding at City Hall and I grabbed that dress out of the closet (I don’t have many dresses, so not many choices).

    But, mine is Michael Kors, so either his is a knockoff of hers or she’s wearing a Michael Kors wrap dress.

    DVF hasn’t changed at all over the years. She looks exactly as she did in the 70’s. Gorgeous face and great legs.

    • CatMum says:

      his is a knockoff of hers. every wrap dress is a knockoff of hers!

      Michael is hella funny on Project Runway. but he’s not a very gifted designer. most of his stuff is a knockoff in one way or another.

  6. Waitwhat says:

    I actually met DVF and her husband recently- they hosted the little island opening party this year. She is so elegant and gracious, and was super kind to me and my cousin even though we are regular middle class people and look like it haha (got the invitation through my job)

  7. HeatherC says:

    One of my big adult post divorce purchases was a DVF wrap dress. It’s years old, floral print, but it has never gone out of style. I still wear it to weddings, things like that. It’s survived my up and down weights and been more of a constant than any relationship I’ve ever had. If you buy one designer dress, let it be this one.

    • BeanieBean says:

      I never had a DVF wrap dress, but I did have a DVF long skirt/top combo that I wore the heck out of. It did not survive my weight gain! Sleeves got too tight, alas.

  8. Mrs.Krabapple says:

    This makes so much sense to me. I should be so lucky to reach the age of people I see as “old” — they are simply “fortunate” to reach an age that I might not!

  9. CatMum says:

    I agree with her philosophy on aging. I have aged out of a lot of stuff (burning man, all night ragers… etc) and I was reflecting on this and feeling sorry for myself when I realized that I have actually had a great life, with many dear friends and amazing lovers. so if I’m slowing down (which I am) it’s fine. because I have experienced a lot!

    I came here to say this and ended up having a lot to say about the wrap dresses! lol. makes sense, because used to work in the rag trade. she revolutionized it and we all owe her a debt of gratitude. especially all the designers who have knocked her off!

    I have so much respect for DVF! hopefully I will get to see the docu. she deserves it.

  10. JustBitchy says:

    Beautiful woman marries prince at 18. That’s quite a start. I do hate that both of her loves are gay or bi and without them I don’t think she would be as “successful.” Diller is very very rich and provides the OTT lifestyle. I’m not a big fan of her or any woman that gets her wealth through marriage.