How Diane von Furstenberg Went From German Princess to Fashion Power Player: Her Groundbreaking Wrap Dress and New Hulu Documentary

Diane von Furstenberg is one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. Her groundbreaking wrap dress flew off the shelves after its creation in the 1970s, launching von Furstenberg’s career and solidifying her status as a cultural icon.

2024 has been a banner year for the designer: not only is it the 50th anniversary of her most iconic creation, but it marks the release of a documentary about her life and legacy, out on June 25 on Hulu.

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First Marriage and Royal Titles

Diane married into the former royal House of Furstenberg in 1969 upon her nuptials to Prince Egon von Furstenberg.

The Furstenberg family ruled over their own country, and later principality, in the present-day state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The country of Furstenberg was officially dissolved in 1806, with the founding of Germany taking place decades later. Today, the Furstenberg family still uses their royal titles, though they aren’t officially recognized by the German government, which abolished any legal privileges of nobility in 1919.

After marrying Prince Egon, Diane became Her Serene Highness Princess of Furstenberg. Even while she was still married to Prince Egon, however, she preferred to go by the title of Ms., dropping the princess title altogether following the couple’s divorce in 1983.

During their marriage, Diane and Egon had two children: Alexander and Tatiana, who, although born with the titles of prince and princess, respectively, don’t use them today. Alexander’s daughter and Diane’s granddaughter, Talita von Furstenberg, sits on the board of her grandmother’s company.

Diane remarried in 2001, tying the knot with business executive Barry Diller.

Creation of the Wrap Dress

According to the designer, she first considered entering the fashion industry after marrying her first husband.

“The minute I knew I was about to become Egon’s wife, I decided to have a career,” she told the New York Times in 1977. “I had to be someone of my own, and not just a plain little girl who got married beyond her deserts.”

Diane von Furstenberg Through the Years

Von Furstenberg officially launched her wrap dress in 1974. Crafted from form-fitting, yet breathable jersey, the silhouette was inspired by wrap sweaters that ballerinas wear over leotards. Within two years, one million wrap dresses were sold.

Framed by 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 for day-to-night wear as women traded in homemaking for the workforce.

Made without buttons or zippers, the wrap dress also embodied the decade’s evolving attitudes towards sexuality. “If you’re trying to slip out without waking a sleeping man, zips are a nightmare,” von Furstenberg once said.

Today, the legend of the wrap dress lives on: in celebration of its 50th anniversary, von Furstenberg released a now-sold out collaboration with Target. Tapping into 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: Woman in Charge.” Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Trish Dalton, the forthcoming film, available to stream starting June 25, follows the designer’s rise to prominence. Featuring interviews with Marc Jacobs, Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey, “Woman in Charge” had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

Diane von Furstenberg Through the Years

Launch Gallery: Diane von Furstenberg Through the Years

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