Diane von Furstenberg Embraces the "Winter of Her Life" with Kindness and Empowerment

In October 2025, 78-year-old fashion legend Diane von Furstenberg is set to receive the Perelman Performing Arts Center NYC Icon of Culture award. However, the iconic designer is not one to seek the spotlight. She initially declined the honor, agreeing to accept it only if the event was organized as a comedic roast.

Von Furstenberg's storied career has spanned decades. The daughter of a Holocaust survivor, she arrived in New York in 1969 and revolutionized women's fashion with the introduction of the wrap dress in 1973. She went on to become a self-made millionaire and part of New York's high society. In 2001, she married media mogul Barry Diller, further cementing her status as a power couple.

Now, as von Furstenberg enters the "winter of her life," she is focused on a different kind of legacy. She emphasizes the power of kindness, describing it as a "currency" that compounds. Von Furstenberg says her main goal is to use her vast network and connections to "make miracles" by introducing people who can change each other's lives.

With a lifetime of experiences and achievements behind her, von Furstenberg remains humble and eager to share her wisdom. She believes that the key to true beauty in a woman lies in her eye contact, smile, and body language - not in conforming to the model ideal. As she prepares to accept her latest honor, the fashion icon is embracing the next chapter of her life with a renewed focus on empowering others through acts of kindness.