DVF's "Journey of a Dress"

"By FIONA MORIARTY-MCLAUGHLINDiane von Furstenberg’s "Journey of a Dress" exhibit opened at the LACMA on Friday, Jan. 10.I walked in the exhibit and was immediately immersed into the essence of DVF by the array of images on the wall of the DVF experience and evolution of the wrap dress since its first introduction in 1974.The wrap dress is responsible for putting DVF on the A-list of fashion icons. The dress has a v-neck and falls right above the knees. It also has the classic tie, which wraps delicately around the waist. Some have collars and some are sleeveless, but traditionally the wrap dress is long-sleeved with a collar. They come in numerous prints and patterns."The wrap dress is the one thing that I owe everything to," Furstenberg said at the preview of the exhibit. "She paid for all my bills and as a matter of fact, in French, we call the wrap dress 'portefeuille,' which means wallet. But sometimes I ever resented the wrap dress because whenever my name is there, it’s always 'Diane von Furstenberg, the wrap dress' and I always say 'but I do other things too.'"The wrap dress is unique because it was the first frock to put DVF on the radar.The exhibit celebrates 40 years of the dress that encompasses the designer’s fresh, feminine and fearless style. The 198 designs range from miniskirts to flared pants and are organized into sections with names like Nature, Pop Art and Geometric that showcase von Furstenberg’s elaborate color palette. Ralph Pucci, furniture designer, designed the customized mannequins with faces molded in her image."Feel Like a Woman, Wear a Dress!" is the slogan of DVF. It is the welcoming sign into the exhibit before you reach the main attraction, the dresses. DVF has also been featured in movies such as American Hustle and Taxi Driver, and stills from these movies line the entryway and gift shop.The exhibit also showcases pictures of DVF by distinguished photographers including Andy Warhol, Annie Leibovitz, Chuck Close, Konstantin Kakanias and more.von Furstenberg decided to feature the exhibit in Los Angeles first, even though she is usually thought to be a New Yorker. She will continue the exhibit in Moscow and Beijing."Los Angeles is very much pop culture and this dress is popular culture," she said. "I never set out to make a fashion statement, but this dress is now in sociology class. It’s associated [with] liberation of women."