Wrapped

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Diane von Furstenburg’s iconic wrap dress, Journey of a Dress is currently on exhibit at the Wilshire May Company Building- knowns as LACMA West- one of LA’s most storied architectural buildings, and former home to the historic May Company department store. While the exhibition has traveled to Asia, the Middle East, and South America, von Furstenburg chose Los Angeles as the first North American stop for her show due in large part to the city being all about pop-culture, as her dress defines pop-culture.  The 200 designs range from miniskirts to flared pants and are organized into sections with names like Nature, PopArt, and Geometric that showcases von Furstenburg’s evolving color palette. The customized mannequins come by way of furniture designer Ralph Pucci with faces molded in her image…those distinctive cheekbones included.

Vintage and contemporary pieces, along with portraits of the designer by artists such as Andy Warhol, Chuck Close, Zhang Huan and Helmet Newton are featured in the 20,000 square-foot gallery. Ad campaigns and stills from movies like American Hustle and Taxi Driver that have featured her creations line the entryway and gift shop. Having designed the dress while just 26 years old, von Furstenburg was inspired by the silky wrap tops and skirts that ballet dancers wore. Then, a symbol of women’s liberation- as well as sexual liberation- the dress empowered millions of women. And now, this frock is discussed in sociology classes, associated to the independence of women. Not only does this statement dress from the elegant designer and former Princess- my favorite combo-  compliment just about every woman’s body type, it’s still tres chic 40 years later.  www.dvf.com