For the fall collection, Talita von Furstenberg and CEO Gabby Hirata were looking to the seventies, specifically Venice in the 1970’s, which not coincidentally happens to be where the DVF awards took place earlier this month. “I thought about the collection as a trip to Venice and packing things that don’t wrinkle in a suitcase,” Talita said during an appointment in the company’s Meatpacking District headquarters. The Venetian inspiration was most obvious in colorful prints inspired by ceilings and tile panels the team discovered during a recent visit.
While the DVF team is still working on their rebranding to appeal to a younger generation, the signature wrap dress that rose to popularity 50 years ago remains an iconic piece in their collections. It has since been reimagined and is available in various lengths, from mini to maxi, and in fabrics like viscose, and the special double-lined jersey that was used in the original wrap dresses. “We hadn’t been using platforms like Shopify before, but now we’ve been getting all this data and we finally see what works,” explained Talita. “And we’re putting this into the design process so we can give women what they want to wear.” A subtle polka dot print with tiny roses, inspired by an archival print from a previous Diane von Fursternberg collection was a highlight. Along with the classic wrap dress, Talita has introduced a new wrap jumpsuit, which is quickly becoming a new DVF signature. “The overall desire at DVF is to make effortless clothes that you put on and feel confident,” Talita explains before adding, “and the jumpsuit is very flattering.” Another standout of the collection was the power suit, which they produced in a bold color palette that included gem-colored tones like a deep ruby red and a vibrant sapphire blue, modernized in a wrinkle-proof knit fabric. This power suit does not need to be steamed or ironed before heading into the office — or the coffee shop that may double as an office — and can be easily paired with a basic white tee and flats.
“I would wear the power suit with [this] pair of Venetian slides I just got in navy velvet,” Talita reveals. A perfectly Gen-Z way approach to modern dressing, fitting for strolling the streets of Venice or anywhere else in the world.
