Diane von Fürstenberg Biography

Vita

• 1958

  Attends the Pensionnat Cuche boarding school in Lausanne, Switzerland.

• 1961

  Moves to study at Stroud Court, a girls' boarding school in Oxfordshire.

• 1965

  Diane von Fürstenberg moves to Madrid to continue her studies in Spanish at the University of Madrid.

• 1966

  Continues her education at the University of Geneva, specializing in economics. During this time, she meets Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, the nephew of Fiat car boss Gianni Agnelli. After graduating, she moved to Paris and worked as an assistant to Albert Koski, a fashion photographer's agent. She leaves Paris for Italy to apprentice with textile manufacturer Angelo Ferretti at his factory, where she learns about cut, color, and fabric.

• 1969

  Apprentices with Italian textile manufacturer Angelo Ferretti. She marries German aristocrat Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, who introduces her to the world of high society, which later influences her fashion career. They first moved to Costa Smerald, Sardinia in Italy to enjoy the life of high society. After moving to New York, she begins producing her own line of jersey dresses with an initial investment of $30,000. She becomes a regular at Andy Warhol's studio.

• 1970

  Launches her label and presents her first collection at the Gotham Hotel in New York City. The label is an early success, and she adds cosmetics and fragrance lines to her portfolio. Gives birth to son Alexandre von Fürstenberg.

• 1971

  Welcomes her second child, daughter Tatiana von Fürstenberg.

• 1972

  Separates from her husband.

• 1974

  Von Fürstenberg creates her famous wrap dress, which becomes a defining symbol of power for an influential generation of women. The dress sells over a million units in less than two years. Launches Tatiana cosmetics line and fragrance in new Madison Avenue beauty boutique. Meets media mogul Barry Diller, whom she later marries.

• 1976

  Employs 100 people and earns $133 million a year, selling 25,000 wrap dresses a week. Gives herself a sixteen-room apartment on Fifth Avenue for her 30th birthday. The Wall Street Journal publishes a cover story on her, and she appears on the covers of Interview and Newsweek.

• 1977

  Von Fürstenberg publishes her first book, "Book of Beauty: How to Become a More Attractive, Confident, and Sensual Woman.

• 1978

  Sells her dress design license to Puritan Fashions Corporation.

• 1979

  Launches Diane Von Fürstenberg Style for Living, a furniture and home furnishings collection for Sears that will generate $100 million over seven years.

• 1981

  Creates Volcan d'Amour fragrance.

• 1983

  Sells her cosmetics line to Beecham Pharmaceuticals for $22 million, further distancing herself from the DVF brand. Divorces Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, but continues to use the family name.

• 1984

  Moves to Paris to live with writer Alain Elkann. Designs knitwear and nurses' uniforms for Ballantyne

• 1989

  Diane's annual income drops to $1 million as her brand becomes passé. Her career is revived by the uncool medium of home shopping TV channel QVC, on which she appears to sell her new clothing lines.

• 2001

  Marries media mogul Barry Diller.

• 2005

  Receives the Andre Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award.

• 2006

  Von Fürstenberg receives the CFDA's Lifetime Achievement Award and is elected president of the influential council. She oversees influential projects such as the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the CFDA Fashion Incubator.

• 2014

  Forbes lists her as the 68th most powerful woman in the world. Diane stars in a fashion reality TV show, "House of DVF," where eight young women compete for a job as brand ambassadors for her company, demonstrating her continued influence in the fashion industry.

• 2016

  Receives an honorary doctorate from The New School and designs shirts for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

• 2019

  Launches her podcast #InCharge with the goal of empowering women.

• 2020

  Von Fürstenberg is named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor for her contributions to fashion, women's leadership and philanthropy.