The Woman I Wanted to Be
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4.7 • 10 Ratings
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- £7.99
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- £7.99
Publisher Description
One of the most influential, admired, and innovative women of our time: fashion designer, philanthropist, wife, mother, and grandmother, Diane von Furstenberg offers a book about becoming the woman she wanted to be.
Diane von Furstenberg started out with a suitcase full of jersey dresses and an idea of who she wanted to be-in her words, "the kind of woman who is independent and who doesn't rely on a man to pay her bills." She has since become that woman, establishing herself as a global brand and a major force in the fashion industry, all the while raising a family and maintaining "my children are my greatest creation."
In The Woman I Wanted to Be, von Furstenberg reflects on her extraordinary life-from childhood in Brussels to her days as a young, jet-set princess, to creating the dress that came to symbolise independence and power for an entire generation of women. With remarkable honesty and wisdom, von Furstenberg mines the rich territory of what it means to be a woman. She opens up about her family and career, overcoming cancer, building a global brand, and devoting herself to empowering other women, writing, "I want every woman to know that she can be the woman she wants to be."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this captivating memoir, fashion powerhouse von Furstenberg (Diane: A Signature Life) thoughtfully reflects on her colorful life and doesn't skimp on the juicy details. Von Furstenberg begins movingly by writing of her need to please her mother, a concentration camp survivor, while growing up in Brussels. The book then moves on to her life as a jet-set princess and fledgling designer in New York City, her invention of the iconic jersey wrap dress in the early 1970s, and stories of her children, Alexandre and Tatiana. "My 30s were my best years," she reflects. "I was still young but felt grown up, lived an adventurous life, raised my two children, and ran a business. The 40s were harder." Von Furstenberg also details a love life that involved men like Richard Gere, Alain Elkann, and Mark Peploe, and admits how long it took for her to realize that now-husband Barry Diller, whom she met when she was 28 and he was 33, was her soulmate. She outlines her many positive contributions to the fashion industry, but admirably doesn't sugarcoat business missteps like her efforts in beauty licensing. This is a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of the fashion world's most enduring stars that will fascinate fashionistas and fans of strong, creative women.
Customer Reviews
Inspiring
Very interesting book detailing the life and loves of her life. Also very inspiring and almost forces you to further yourself!