Diane von Fürstenberg's renowned wrap dresses on show in Brussels

By

Emma RUFFENACH

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Apr 12, 2023

After starring in a fashion exhibition in the metaverse, where it was transformed into an NFT, Diane von Fürstenberg's iconic wrap dress will be exhibited at the Fashion & Lace Museum in Brussels. The museum - near which von Fürstenberg used to live - will stage the first international retrospective for the 76-year-old Belgian-American designer, from April 21, 2023 to January 7, 2024.

The ‘Diane von Fürstenberg, Woman Before Fashion’ exhibition will trace the journey of the Brussels-born designer, who ruled the roost in New York in the 1970s with her famous wrap dresses, tied at the waist and a cross between a kimono and a Roman toga.

The garment, lightweight and ultra-feminine, was originally made in wrinkle-free jersey, a skirt/top fusion that has become a symbol of women’s freedom and independence, reconciling practicality with a sensual line thanks to its adjustable V neckline. As well as on the runways, wrap dresses have been famously worn by Michelle Obama and pop singer Amy Winehouse.

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Fifty models and many archival images illustrate Diane von Fürstenberg’s rise to fame and the keys to her success. She genuinely embodies the female version of the American dream, having apprenticed with Italian fashion entrepreneur Angelo Ferretti before moving to the US in 1970.

The designer has notably been the chair of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the American fashion’s governing body, from 2006 to 2019. The following year, she was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest order of merit, which she received from Christine Lagarde.

From von Fürstenberg’s successful fashion career to the sources of inspiration for her bold, colourful patterns, abstract art and architecture, the exhibition will revisit the life of the fashion designer, a philanthropist engaged in women’s advocacy with the DVF Awards, a scholarship launched in 2010 to reward extraordinary women active in society. 

The ‘Diane von Fürstenberg, Woman Before Fashion’ exhibition will be held from Friday April 21, 2023 to Sunday January 7, 2024 at the Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum, Rue de la Violette 121000 Brussels.