via SongofStyle.com
When Diane von Furstenberg debuted her signature wrap dress in the 1970s, little did she know what a phenomenon it would become. Von Furstenberg wanted a casual, simple dress that would be versatile and impeccably stylish. It turns out that’s exactly what other women desired, too. Forty years later, the wrap dress is not only still in vogue, but also representative of empowerment, freedom and confidence for women everywhere.
In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the wrap dress, a special exhibition titled “DVF 40 – Journey of a Dress” is on display in Los Angeles. The exhibit itself houses an archive of photos of von Furstenberg and famous women (Jerry Hall, Madonna and Michelle Obama, just to name a few) who have donned the wrap dress at pivotal points in their respective careers. Another room displays an exquisite collection of mannequins showcasing a medley of wrap dresses while a third space is devoted to artwork of DVF by several artists, most notably Andy Warhol, a close friend of von Furstenberg.
Von Furstenberg admits that she often undervalued the power of her signature dress. When she started out, it helped pay the bills and support her family, but beyond that, she didn’t think much of it. She says she took the dress for granted, annoyed at times that some people only associated her with the wrap dress (despite all of her other accomplishments). Von Furstenberg never imagined that the wrap dress would play such a critical role in fashion history.
As noted in a recent article in W Magazine, the wrap dress is also a “symbol of the newly powerful liberated woman who could excel in a work environment without sacrificing femininity.” One of her most famous mantras, “Feel like a woman, wear a dress!” serves as a central theme of “Journey of a Dress.” I think this is one philosophy we can all get behind!
via DVF.com
For one dress to stand the test of time is really quite remarkable, as noted by von Furstenberg herself: “It’s never happened to a dress before—for the same style to have survived so many generations and still appeal to young people. So we wanted to celebrate that.”
A bevy of members from the fashion community as well as longtime admirers attended the opening of the exhibition to show their support and appreciation. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, don’t miss the opportunity to check out this unique retrospective. It is housed at the Wilshire May Company Building and will be on view from January 11 to April 1.
For a closer look at the exhibit, from opening night which includes snippets of Diane talking about the history of the wrap dress.
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