Diane von Furstenberg, New York fashion expert and icon: “For me, women have always been ahead of fashion.”

Diane von Furstenberg , New York's fashion icon, will receive the Perelman Performing Arts Center Cultural Icon Award at a gala gathering the Big Apple's elite on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

This Tuesday, she appeared on Good Morning America to talk about the award and had previously given interviews to various media outlets, including Interview Magazine . Von Furstenberg was one of the guests at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez 's exclusive wedding in Venice.

The philanthropist and designer summed up her enormous contribution to the world of fashion in this magazine when she stated: “For me, women have always come before fashion . I'm interested in women. What makes a woman beautiful is eye contact, smile, and body language. Body language is everything, and it starts with the fabric. The most important thing is how it feels, how it drapes, and what you can do with it effortlessly.”

Diane has never been interested in fitting into any mold. In an interview with Variety , when asked about her second husband, business magnate Barry Diller , to whom she has been married for two decades, she called him “her soul mate.” That wouldn’t be too surprising, except for the fact that Diller came out last year . When asked about her marriage, the designer said bluntly: “Sorry, this is a silly question. I married two gay men, okay? I don’t know why, but to me they’re not gay, so it doesn’t make any difference.”

Before marrying Diller, the Belgian designer was married to Prince Egon von Fürstenberg , from whom she took her surname. The couple married in 1969, separated in 1972, and formalized their divorce in 1983. They had two children, Alexandre and Tatiana. They remained close friends until Egon's death in 2004.

Diane von Furstenberg is a Belgian-born fashion designer, author, and philanthropist. She is internationally recognized for creating the iconic wrap dress , cementing her position as a key figure in modern fashion.

The Belgian designer founded her eponymous brand and created the iconic dress that defined the idea of ​​freedom for several generations of women. Von Furstenberg is also known for her extensive philanthropic work dedicated to inspiring women.

In 2010, she established the DVF Awards in conjunction with the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation. These awards seek to honor and support women who have demonstrated courage, resilience, and leadership.

Her legacy has been widely recognized internationally. The designer was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2019. She has also received awards such as the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur from France in 2020 and the Commander of the Order of the Crown from her native Belgium in 2021.

Von Furstenberg currently serves on the boards of Vital Voices and the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). The Diller-von Furstenberg Foundation has also been instrumental in the restoration of New York City's High Line and the creation of Little Island in Manhattan.

As for her author profile, she has written several books, including The Woman I Wanted to Be and Own It: The Secret to Life . In 2024, Hulu and Disney+ released a documentary about her life and career titled Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge .