‘A Reflection of People’

Life has not always been easy for Diane von Furstenberg, 59, but at least it hasn’t been dull. She has wed a prince, befriended the likes of Andy Warhol, sold millions of her famous dresses, neared bankruptcy, rebounded by selling clothes on TV and returned again with her own luxury line. Now, new generations of women—from Teri Hatcher to Paris Hilton—are discovering her clothes, and she’s opening stores in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, and elsewhere.

Last week, the industry anointed her the queen of U.S. fashion: the president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Almost 10 years after she relaunched her line and 30 years after NEWSWEEK placed her on its cover, Diane is on top again. She recently spoke with NEWSWEEK’s A. Christian Jean. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: So, has anyone ever written about you and not mentioned the wrap dress?

Diane von Furstenberg: That’s a very good question. Not for a while. Not in a long, long time. I guess at some point it will be written on my tombstone.

You know it was 30 years ago that I was on the cover of NEWSWEEK. It was a very big deal at the time. And at the time they didn’t believe my age [she was only 29]. They went and checked my birth certificate.

The designer graced the cover of NEWSWEEK on March 22, 1976