Published in 2012,
Diane von Furstenberg and the tale of The Empress's New Clothes, is the story of wrap dress designer Diane von Furstenberg. Camilla Morton has also written fairy tale versions for other designers: "Christian Lacroix and the Tale of Sleeping Beauty" and "Manolo Blahnik and the Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker". The tales are illustrated by the designers themselves and in this one, by DVF Studio.
Whimsical and inspiring, the two stories are really about the realities of work in a grown up world, the power of vision and persistence and believing in oneself. They are also about knowing one's audience, whether it be in the royal kingdom or the fashion world.As Morton says: "Diane wasn't guessing or telling women what they wanted. She knew. She lived it, believed it, designed it, and this attitude made her designs right for every occasion."
The princesses' clothing always features crowns: dresses, stockings, pj's, whereas Diane's feature hearts, as in her motto: "In love is life". Her signature wrap's design is hearts and her intitials and even her Eiffel tower is topped with a heart.
My favorite in this book of two tales, is a great illustration of Diana Vreeland with red lips and nails, set against her classic red walls. Love the copy of the 1970 letter from Vreeland, then Editor in Chief of Vogue, endorsing Diane's collection as "absolutely smashing" and "what we need". Was this a gift from a kindly fairy godmother? No, it was a powerful show of support for a fresh, new and now classic look for women who live outside of glass houses.
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