Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In person

Diane von Furstenberg

Text Sheridan Becker
Image Diego Uchitel

In 1972 fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg said: “Feel like a woman. Wear a dress.” Four years and five million wrap dresses later, she was being hailed as an icon of female liberation. She talks to bthere! about growing up in Belgium

My inspiration in life is women.

I am inspired by them and I design to inspire them. My mother was a survivor of the Holocaust. My father was a loving and supportive parent. As I grow older, I realise the influence my mother had on me. I’m always amazed by her strength as a woman. To this day, my mother’s influence translates into many areas of my working life.

Andy Warhol painted me on two separate occasions.

Many people ask about the Warhol portraits. The first time was in the 70s. I commissioned Andy to do a portrait of me. The second portrait was created in the 80s. I was asked by Andy to pose for an upcoming show of his called Beauties. Both of these portraits presently hang in my studio in New York.

To this day, everyone always asks me how the wrap dress was created.

It was simple. I wanted to create something that was easy to wear. It started with a shirt dress, and then we figured out a way to design the shirt dress to actually slip on or off without making any sounds or noises.

I was raised in Brussels until I was 14 years old.

We lived on Avenue Armand Huysmans and I attended school at the Lycée Dachbeck on the Sablon. I have really fond memories of my schooldays there.

I had great fun growing up with my friends.

There was Myriam Alter (the jazz composer), Myriam Wittamer (of chocolate fame) and Princess Mireille of Hanover. I also recall as a young girl heading to Knokke on vacation with my parents and my little brother. To this day, I could never imagine leaving Brussels without a visit to one of the Dandoy shops (www.biscuiteriedandoy.be). Dandoy’s wonderful desserts remind me of my childhood.

While growing up in Brussels it wasn’t difficult learning several languages.

Even today I speak English, French, Italian, Spanish and German.

Over the years, I’ve visited Belgium on several occasions to see my brother, Philippe, his wife and their two lovely daughters, Sarah and Kelly.

While visiting Brussels, we often enjoy going for long walks in the Forêt de Soignes. I have also attended the openings of each of the three DVF stores we have in Belgium (in Antwerp, Brussels and Knokke). My sister-in-law opened all three stores.

Diane’s Belgium

Favourite city
Bruges is my favourite. l love to visit the museums and I like to go for a relaxing boat ride on the canals. This city is like going back to another century.

Favourite restaurants
When I go out in Brussels for dinner, I like to go to the Canterbury in the lovely area of Les Etangs d’Ixelles. I also like to go to Lola on the Sablon. Of course, after dinner in the Sablon neighbourhood, I would have to visit my friends at the Wittamer patisserie. I always bring back Wittamer’s delightful chocolates for my friends and family. Another favourite restaurant in Belgium is Si Versailles in Knokke.

Favourite stores
In Antwerp, I like to visit the Dries Van Noten shop. He is a great designer. I also like to visit my friend, the designer Axel Vervoordt, who is one of the most talented men in the world. In Brussels, I like the Sablon area, with all the antique shops. And I look for new items for my Paris or New York apartments in the lace shops around the Grand’Place. My favourite flower shop in Brussels is Thierry Boutemy on Avenue Louise. Thierry is a real artist.

Favourite hotel
I like the Hotel Amigo, near the Grand’Place in Brussels. For the opening of my Antwerp store, I stayed at the Hotel De Witte Lelie.

Favourite bar
I like to go to the Flagey building, where all the young people seem to hang out and have drinks.

Favourite museums
Visiting the Musées Royaux des Beaux Arts in Brussels is inspiring to me. I also like to visit art galleries such as Galerie Greta Meert and Xavier Hufkens. I hope to visit the new Magritte and Tintin museums soon. I loved reading Tintin’s adventures when I was a little girl.

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