The Woman I Wanted To Be by Diane Von Furstenburg
The Woman I Wanted To Be by
Diane Von Furstenburg
The “Wrap Dress” made
its debut in 1974. This dress changed the life of Diana Von Furstenburg. It was
a simple, yet elegant and beautiful dress that cinched at the waist, was made
out of jersey material, hugged the body and usually boasted amazing, vibrant
prints. It was also Diane’s key to financial independence. The Woman I
Wanted To Be is the memoir of the woman behind the dress. It is the
story of her dedication, her drive, her losses, her loves, her struggles, her
triumphs.
Let me start off by
saying that I was completely biased the entire time while reading this memoir.
I am obsessed with Diane Von Furstenburg and her wrap dress. I have been a huge
fan of her work for years, ever since seeing it for the first time on Sarah
Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City.” I love it! I love the
way it holds the body, framing even the most petite woman’s frame. I am not one
for prints but I have always found her choices vibrant and gorgeous. It is so
easy and yet magnificent. So needless to say, I am a fan. When I came across
her memoir, The Woman I Wanted To Be, (a signed copy nonetheless!)
my heart soared. Here was my opportunity to learn more about the woman behind
the dress! I dived into these pages head on!
But wait. This was not
the story I was expecting. It was more, much more and I recognized it within
the first few pages when she talked about her mother, a Holocaust survivor. It
was her mother Lily, who endured thirteen months as a prisoner at both
Auschwitz and Ravensbruck, that taught Diane strength, determination and how to
be fearless. That information provided so early in the book set the foundation
for the amount of honesty and candor that would flow throughout the pages.
Diane would go on to speak of the story of her parents and how she would have
to get affection from her father, who was extremely loving toward her and
instilled in her a confidence that she would fall back on throughout her life.
Diane then honestly describe falling in love with men in many different
relationships and affairs. She would become a princess after marrying Prince
Ego von und zu Furstenburg at 22. Their marriage would deteriorate but the
friendship would not. They had two children together, Alexandre and Tatiana,
who together would hold Diana’s strongest love. “Love is life is love is life…”
Diane created such a
well done, honest memoir about her life! It’s set in six different parts which
are easy to follow and really emphasize the different phases of her life and
career. You get to know her personality and her history in the first three
parts The Woman I Am. Then you get to learn about her impact on fashion and how
it all occurred in The Business of Fashion. This memoir was simply well thought
out and honest. I love how she was able to reflect on her life and honestly
describe those events that shaped who she is. She isn’t always cast in a great
light and she struggled with her identity on and off for years. Diane made sure
to express that! She wants the reader to understand that they too can overcome
hardships. This memoir was also fun. The fashion, the lifestyle, Studio 54, it
was all great and extremely entertaining. The people she knows, the life she
has experienced the places she has traveled! All so breathtaking! I adored this
book (again, I’m biased) and give it 5 out of 5 stars. Reading this memoir made
me appreciate the beauty that I see in her work and that I see in her.
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