Diane von Fürstenberg

Diane von Fürstenberg - Fashion Designers, Facts and Facts

Violet FieldHome › AmericanDiane von FürstenbergDecember 31, 1946329 views

0 based on 0 rates
Diane von Fürstenberg Biography Stories 

Diane von Fürstenberg's Personal Details

This famous Belgian-American fashion designer is known for designing ‘the wrap dress’

InformationDetail
BirthdayDecember 31, 1946
NationalityAmerican
FamousFeminists, Fashion, Fashion Designers, Fashion Designers
SpousesBarry Diller
Known asDiane Simone Michelle Halfin
ChildrensAlexander von Fürstenberg, Tatiana von Fürstenberg
Universities
  • University of Geneva
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Diane Von Furstenberg Studio
Birth PlaceBrussels
Height173
GenderFemale
FatherLeon Halfin
MotherLiliane Nahmias
Net Worth$1.2 Billion as of Jan 15,2017
Sun SignCapricorn
Born inBrussels
Famous asFashion designer

// Famous Fashion Designers

Yung Lean

Yung Lean

Yung Lean is a Swedish rapper, songwriter, fashion designer and record producer. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo

The famous fashion designer has established the world-famous line of couture and accessories, ‘Jimmy Choo Ltd.’. To know more about the childhood, profile, timeline and career of this eminent shoe designer read on

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez is an American singer, actress, dancer, fashion designer and businesswoman. This biography offers detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, career and timeline.

Diane von Fürstenberg's photo

Who is Diane von Fürstenberg?

Diane von Furstenberg – born Diane Simone Michelle Halfin – is a Belgian-American fashion designer and entrepreneur. More popularly known as DVF, she is the founder of her fashion label by the same name. Having been associated with the fashion industry for more than four decades, she went on to become one of the most respected names in the world of fashion. In fact, fashion experts consider her the pioneer of some of the most iconic and timeless fashion trends of all times. Her designs were dubbed liberating, making her a prominent figure during the women’s liberation movement of the seventies. With time, her brand has grown from a fashion label to a style statement. This is evident by the fact that top celebrities - such as the First Lady, A-list Hollywood stars and the Duchess of Cambridge - have donned dresses, shoes and accessories designed by her. Adding further dimension to her portfolio, she also introduced home decor, designer luggage and eyewear under the DVF brand name. A supporter of female emancipation, she has actively been involved in philanthropic endeavors. Many of her altruistic initiatives are aimed at empowering women from around the globe. Von Furstenberg is also a published author, with a number of books under her belt

// Famous Fashion Designers

Guccio Gucci

Guccio Gucci

Guccio Gucci was a famous fashion designer from Florence, Italy, and the founder of the world-renowned fashion brand ‘Gucci.’ Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Kiko Mizuhara

Kiko Mizuhara

Kiko Mizuhara (Audrie Kiko Daniel) is an American-Japanese actress, model, and designer. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace

Donatella Versace is a well-known Italian fashionista and current Vice President of the Versace Group. This biography offers a glimpse of her childhood, career, achievements and timeline.

Childhood& Early Life

Diane’s Romanian-origin father, Leon Halfin, had moved to Belgium where she was born on 31st December 1946. He worked as an electronics executive, while her Greek-born mother, Liliane Nahmias, was a Holocaust survivor. She was freed from the Auschwitz concentration camp shortly before she gave birth to Diane.

Von Furstenberg says that her mother inspired her to become fearless. Her mother’s story left a deep impression on her and helped her gain confidence and self-belief, which proved to be her strengths throughout her illustrious career.

She acquired her early education from schools in England, Spain and Switzerland. In 1965, she enrolled at the ‘University of Madrid’, but switched to the ‘University of Geneva’ a year later, where she majored in economics.

After graduating, she went to Paris and assisted Albert Koski, who was an agent to fashion photographers. Her calling for fashion designing came when she moved to Italy for an apprenticeship at Angelo Ferretti’s textile factory.

It was during this time that she developed a familiarity of materials, cuts and colors. This was also where she created her very first outfits using Ferretti’s silk jersey fabric.

Career

Von Furstenberg’s designing career formally started after moving to New York City, with her then-husband, in 1969. She marketed her existing designs and worked on new ones from the dining room of her apartment.

Her flair for designing was encouraged by the likes of designers Kenny Lane and Bill Blass, as well as Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. This led her to produce and display her first collection at New York City’s ‘Gotham Hotel’, in April 1970.

Since she had no prior experience in mass producing clothes, she started her journey by associating with leading retailers in female fashion. In April 1972, she opened her own business at ‘Seventh Avenue’ with financial help from her father.

The clothes she initially displayed at her showroom were derived from her earlier designs. It was a sweater dress named ‘Angela’, made as an ode to activist Angela Davis, which brought her to the limelight.

Her biggest claim to fame came later in 1972, when she designed the ‘wrap dress’. The dress was such a monumental success for her that it went on to become a wardrobe staple for women.

In 1974, she launched a cosmetic line and a perfume named ‘Tatiana’, a namesake of her daughter. By the next couple of years, her company had made five million wrap dresses. The dress’ popularity among women is often seen as an important step towards empowering females during the seventies.

During her hiatus from the fashion world from 1983-1997, she worked on three coffee-table books. Upon her return, von Furstenberg sold dresses and accessories worth $1.2 million on QVC within the first two hours.

In 1997, she reopened her business and brought back her signature wrap dresses. The following year, she came out with her first memoir, detailing events from her professional as well as personal life.

She launched a diffusion collection named ‘Diane’ in 2011, calling it the “core of DVF”. The year after, she introduced a clothing line for children with ‘Gap Kids’.

Her second memoir came out in 2014, the same year as her becoming a part of the ‘Ban Bossy’ campaign, which aims to empower young women and girls.

Major Works

Diane attained phenomenal success after introducing her wrap dress in April 1972, a sample of which was placed in the ‘Metropolitan Museum of Art’.

She has written two memoirs titled ‘Diane: A Signature Life’ (1998) and ‘The Woman I Wanted To Be’ (2014).

A feminist by nature, she launched ‘DVF Awards’ in 2010 to honor women with exceptional leadership skills.

Awards & Achievements

Von Furstenberg got a lifetime achievement award from the ‘Council of Fashion Designers America’ (CFDA) in 2005.

The Seventh Avenue Fashion Walk of Fame honored her with a star in 2008

Personal Life & Legacy

She met her first husband, Prince Egon of Furstenberg, in university. She was called ‘Her Serene Highness Princess Diane of Furstenberg’ after their marriage in 1969.

The couple had two children – Prince Alexander, born in 1970 and Princess Tatiana, born a year later. The marriage lasted only three years.

Post-divorce, she lost the royal title, but retained the surname. She was linked with Richard Gere, Ryan O’Neal and Warren Beatty. From 1985-1989, she was in a relationship with French author Alain Elkann.

She married media tycoon Barry Diller in 2001, having known him since the seventies. The two started the ‘Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation’ to support non-profit organizations.

Trivia

When this famous fashion designer, saw Julie Nixon Eisenhower don a skirt and wrap blouse by her, she decided to combine the two and came up with the wrap dress

// Famous Feminists

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner truth was an African American abolitionist who was the first black woman to win a case against a white man. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir was an eminent French writer, intellectual, activist, and philosopher. This biography profiles her childhood, life, thoughts, achievements and timeline.

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony

Susan B. Anthony was an American feminist who played a major role in the women's suffrage movement. This biography of Susan B. Anthony provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Diane von Fürstenberg biography timelines

  • // 31st Dec 1946
    Diane’s Romanian-origin father, Leon Halfin, had moved to Belgium where she was born on 31st December 1946. He worked as an electronics executive, while her Greek-born mother, Liliane Nahmias, was a Holocaust survivor. She was freed from the Auschwitz concentration camp shortly before she gave birth to Diane.
  • // 1965
    She acquired her early education from schools in England, Spain and Switzerland. In 1965, she enrolled at the ‘University of Madrid’, but switched to the ‘University of Geneva’ a year later, where she majored in economics.
  • // 1969
    Von Furstenberg’s designing career formally started after moving to New York City, with her then-husband, in 1969. She marketed her existing designs and worked on new ones from the dining room of her apartment.
  • // 1969
    She met her first husband, Prince Egon of Furstenberg, in university. She was called ‘Her Serene Highness Princess Diane of Furstenberg’ after their marriage in 1969.
  • // 1970
    The couple had two children – Prince Alexander, born in 1970 and Princess Tatiana, born a year later. The marriage lasted only three years.
  • // Apr 1970
    Her flair for designing was encouraged by the likes of designers Kenny Lane and Bill Blass, as well as Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. This led her to produce and display her first collection at New York City’s ‘Gotham Hotel’, in April 1970.
  • // 1972
    Her biggest claim to fame came later in 1972, when she designed the ‘wrap dress’. The dress was such a monumental success for her that it went on to become a wardrobe staple for women.
  • // Apr 1972
    Since she had no prior experience in mass producing clothes, she started her journey by associating with leading retailers in female fashion. In April 1972, she opened her own business at ‘Seventh Avenue’ with financial help from her father.
  • // Apr 1972
    Diane attained phenomenal success after introducing her wrap dress in April 1972, a sample of which was placed in the ‘Metropolitan Museum of Art’.
  • // 1974
    In 1974, she launched a cosmetic line and a perfume named ‘Tatiana’, a namesake of her daughter. By the next couple of years, her company had made five million wrap dresses. The dress’ popularity among women is often seen as an important step towards empowering females during the seventies.
  • // 1983 To 1997
    During her hiatus from the fashion world from 1983-1997, she worked on three coffee-table books. Upon her return, von Furstenberg sold dresses and accessories worth $1.2 million on QVC within the first two hours.
  • // 1985 To 1989
    Post-divorce, she lost the royal title, but retained the surname. She was linked with Richard Gere, Ryan O’Neal and Warren Beatty. From 1985-1989, she was in a relationship with French author Alain Elkann.
  • // 1997
    In 1997, she reopened her business and brought back her signature wrap dresses. The following year, she came out with her first memoir, detailing events from her professional as well as personal life.
  • // 1998 To 2014
    She has written two memoirs titled ‘Diane: A Signature Life’ (1998) and ‘The Woman I Wanted To Be’ (2014).
  • // 2001
    She married media tycoon Barry Diller in 2001, having known him since the seventies. The two started the ‘Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation’ to support non-profit organizations.
  • // 2005
    Von Furstenberg got a lifetime achievement award from the ‘Council of Fashion Designers America’ (CFDA) in 2005.
  • // 2008
    The Seventh Avenue Fashion Walk of Fame honored her with a star in 2008
  • // 2010
    A feminist by nature, she launched ‘DVF Awards’ in 2010 to honor women with exceptional leadership skills.
  • // 2011
    She launched a diffusion collection named ‘Diane’ in 2011, calling it the “core of DVF”. The year after, she introduced a clothing line for children with ‘Gap Kids’.
  • // 2014
    Her second memoir came out in 2014, the same year as her becoming a part of the ‘Ban Bossy’ campaign, which aims to empower young women and girls.

// Famous Fashion

Sophie Reade

Sophie Reade

Sophie Victoria Reade is a British model and reality show star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life, including her age, birthday, boyfriends, and some interesting facts.

Maria Zulay Salaues

Maria Zulay Salaues

Maria Zulay Salaues Antelo is a Bolivian model and girlfriend of the French footballer Paul Pogba. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Christine Baumgartner

Christine Baumgartner

Christine Baumgartner is an American model and the wife of famous American actor Kevin Costner. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Kyla Cole

Kyla Cole

Kyla Cole is a Slovak glamour model and former television presenter. This biography profiles her childhood, life, modeling career, achievements and timeline.

Annie Bakes

Annie Bakes

Annie Bakes is an American adult model and the ex-wife of Dennis Rodman. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Nora Fatehi

Nora Fatehi

Nora Fatehi is a dancer, model, and actress of Indo–Arabic descent. This biography profiles her childhood, family, personal life, etc.

Diane von Fürstenberg's FAQ

  • What is Diane von Fürstenberg birthday?

    Diane von Fürstenberg was born at 1946-12-31

  • Where is Diane von Fürstenberg's birth place?

    Diane von Fürstenberg was born in Brussels

  • What is Diane von Fürstenberg nationalities?

    Diane von Fürstenberg's nationalities is American

  • Who is Diane von Fürstenberg spouses?

    Diane von Fürstenberg's spouses is Barry Diller

  • Who is Diane von Fürstenberg childrens?

    Diane von Fürstenberg's childrens is Alexander von Fürstenberg, Tatiana von Fürstenberg

  • What was Diane von Fürstenberg universities?

    Diane von Fürstenberg studied at University of Geneva

  • Which company or organization was founded by Diane von Fürstenberg?

    Diane von Fürstenberg was the founder/co-founder of Diane Von Furstenberg Studio

  • How tall is Diane von Fürstenberg?

    Diane von Fürstenberg's height is 173

  • Who is Diane von Fürstenberg's father?

    Diane von Fürstenberg's father is Leon Halfin

  • Who is Diane von Fürstenberg's mother?

    Diane von Fürstenberg's mother is Liliane Nahmias

  • What is Diane von Fürstenberg's sun sign?

    Diane von Fürstenberg is Capricorn

  • How famous is Diane von Fürstenberg?

    Diane von Fürstenberg is famouse as Fashion designer