Photo via therealdvf Instagram – Compiled by Egypt Today
CAIRO – 31 December 2017:
“I wanted to be an independent woman, a woman who could pay for her bills, a woman who could run her own life - and I became that woman.” - Diane von Furstenberg
The iconic Belgian-American Diane von Fürstenberg was born in 1946 to a Romanian father and a Greek mother. Her birth name was Diane Simone Michelle Halfin, and she was raised in Brussels, Belgium. She studied at the University of Geneva in Switzerland where she met her first husband Prince Egon von Fürstenberg and became Princess Diane of Fürstenberg of the House of Fürstenberg when they married in 1969. She continued to use his family name after they divorced in 1983.
“I travel light. I think the most important thing is to be in a good mood and enjoy life, wherever you are.” - Diane von Furstenberg
First she was an economics student, and soon she became an assistant to Albert Koski a fashion photographer agent in Paris, when she began to follow her passion for fashion. She would go on to become an apprentice to Angelo Ferretti and it was there that she would create her first dress.
“Insecurity is a waste of time.” - Diane von Furstenberg
In 1972, she created the knitted jersey ‘Wrap Dress’ which is now placed in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. With the help of the legendary Diana Vreeland, Fürstenberg’s career took off as she placed her on the New York Fashion Week calendar.
”If you're a good person, the goodness will continue through your descendants.” - Diane von Fürstenberg
Her philanthropic activities saw her create the The Diller-von Fürstenberg Family Foundation with her second husband Barry Diller, a billionaire media mogul. Their foundation provides support to a variety of non-profit organizations. She has also committed her career and status to helping emerging designers rise and formed the ‘Design Piracy Prohibition Act’.
“Fashion is mysterious, as a rule. Why are blue jeans a classic? You just hit on something that happens to be timeless and right.” - Diane von Fürstenberg
Achievements:
● 1970: She was announced by News Week magazine to be "the most marketable woman since Coco Chanel."
● 1976: sold over 5 million wrap dresses.
● 2005: she was honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) with a life achievement award.
● 2006: she was elected as the president of the CFDA.
● 2010: she designed rooms for London’s hotel Claridge's.
● 2011: she was given the Award of Courage by amfAR for her fight against AIDS.
● 2014: named by Forbes as the 68th most powerful women.
● 2011: she was honored with the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal from the Municipal Art Society of New York for her contribution to the city.
● 2015: was labelled an icon by Time Magazine.
● 2016: she established the DFV awards to serve as a platform for women who have taken leadership in their own fields and organizations, while also awarding them with grants.
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