The Woman I Wanted to Be

The Woman I Wanted To Be, by Diane Von Furstenberg, Simon & Schuster  2015

Back before her business failed and she lost her licenses, Von Furstenberg's wrap dress became more than a fashion statement.  "Feel like a woman, wear a dress," she said, when silky gorgeous fabric and female business suits did not mix.  The wrap dress was a daring innovation that later spawned many imitations and spin-offs.  The fabrics were always beautiful, and as we later learned, Von Furstenberg's early work experience when she took herself to Italy to learn everything she could about fabric, made the dress.

The idea of wearing a wrap simply tied at the waist was another departure from "safe (secure)" business attire that left nothing - no neck, no skin, no cleavage - to chance. And the dress was clingy - the designer chose fabrics that draped well and showed curves.  Hmm, another deviation from business sensibilities.

But when I learned something of Von Furstenberg's background, I saw that she was more than a colorful fashion designer.  As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, she had that feral drive that  so many sons and daughters of survivors developed - she was ready to create product, and she went after the basic business elements that she knew she'd need, and then she ground it out.

You'll see in The Woman I Wanted to Be a series of lovely photos that capture Von Furstenberg's life at its various stages, from the beautiful childhood family photos, through her crazy marriage to a gay royal, along with her beautiful children, and later shots of her "next life" with billionaire Barry Diller.  The publicity shots are there from Fashion Week, the ultimate success test in the clothing business.

But Von Furstenberg's rise was, as she admits, not without business challenges and a few whopper errors. The legal, financial, and technical issues almost undid her, while a cutthroat industry allowed for few mistakes.  

Mill Girl Verdict:  A juicy expose from the woman who lived the story, inspiring.