London - Fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg is known for turning her signature wrap dress into a fashion empire and in her memoir, The Woman I Wanted to Be, she describes how she did it.
Von Furstenberg, 67, daughter of a Holocaust survivor, married a prince and become an entrepreneur before her 30s. But failed romances, health scares and the highs and lows of business marked a turbulent life.
She became the president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, founded the philanthropic DVF awards and has celebrated the 40th anniversary of her brand.
Von Furstenberg spoke to Reuters about her mission to empower young women.
You write that your mother shaped the woman you are. How did she inspire you?
She taught me to be independent and never a victim because fear is not an option. All of those things have a huge impact on you even if you don’t realise it, especially after you lose your mother.
How do you define beauty?
I think beauty is truth. John Keats said “beauty is truth, truth beauty”. My religion is to practise truth. It is sometimes painful. It requires a lot of maintenance but it avoids many mistakes, compromises and misunderstandings.
Why is female empowerment important to you?
Every woman inspires another woman. When working on my book, I kept saying, “Why am I doing this? Is this just an ego trip?” But what you say, can really help somebody.
What can people take from your story?
Everyone can be the woman they want to be. I have two granddaughters and I always tell them before they go to sleep to be thankful and then think about the woman you want to become. – Reuters