The Diane von Furstenberg show is always some sort of party. A party, in this case, with roughly 1,000 people—packed so tightly at Lincoln Center that they resembled the crowds at the U.S. Open.
In the front row, of course, were the usual suspects: von Furstenberg’s husband, Barry Diller—chairman and senior executive of IAC, which owns The Daily Beast—who sat next to Barbara Walters; Girls star Allison Williams and Jessica Alba; Red Hot Chili Pepper Anthony Keidis; Paris and Nicky Hilton; and Disney star Bella Thorne.
When the lights went up, the familiar sound of the song of summer came over the loudspeakers: Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines.” But there wasn’t a twerkin’ Miley Cyrus anywhere in sight. Von Furstenberg’s women for spring were ladylike, confident, and downright strong.
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Von Furstenberg’s show notes explained that the collection was themed around the idea of an oasis—and the clothes that came down the runway had the feel of escapism, of a fantastical journey through the desert.
Out came a psychedelic zebra-print jumpsuit, safari-inspired linens, a desert “sandscape” printed across a jersey dress, and a cork dress printed with lions and giraffes. Standouts were the liquidy column dresses, presented in colors named chili pepper and Aztec blue.
By the time the soundtrack hit another song of summer, Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” guests were veritably dancing in their seats. But that’s the mood of the DVF show each season; where models at other shows are encouraged to look lifeless and have “dead eyes,” von Furstenberg encourages her girls to smile—and, as always, “BE YOU.”
The finale was a showstopper—and it wasn’t just because of the black and gold embroidered dresses. There was Naomi Campbell, working the runway with a grin. When she appeared, the crowd couldn’t keep it together anymore: people screamed and cheered.
When von Furstenberg herself appeared for her bow in a lion-printed poster dress, she danced a jig down the runway, stopping to wave to friends and kiss her husband.
The designer has described her woman for next spring as “an island unto herself.” Watching von Furstenberg make her way down the runway amid cheers, it certainly appeared to be true.
