Tale of a timeless classic

Diane von Furstenberg (second right), the creator of the wrap dress, with Chinese-American businesswoman Wendi Deng (first right) and Chinese TV presenter Yang Lan (second left) in Beijing for the launch of the Chinese version of her autobiography, The Woman I Wanted To Be. [Photo/China Daily]

Von Furstenberg is also an enthusiastic mentor to women in general.

She is on the board of Vital Voices, a nongovernmental organization that supports female leaders and entrepreneurs, empowering women through philanthropy and mentorship.

Born to Jewish parents in Belgium in 1946, Von Furstenberg married German Prince Egon von Furstenberg in 1969, with whom she had two children, Alexander and Tatiana.

The couple divorced in 1972. And in 2001, Von Furstenberg married her longtime partner Barry Diller, an American media mogul.

She broke into the fashion world in the 1970s with her signature wrap dress design.

The dress sold by the millions and became a symbol of independence for generations of women.

However, she says that when she designed the wrap dress, she had no idea it would become such a phenomenon.

"I just wanted to create a simple dress that women could wear anywhere. And it has amazed me, because it continues to evolve with the women who wear it－four generations, now," she says.

"The wrap dress is the only dress in the Western world that has lasted that long ... but of course that is not the case in China, where you have the qipao."

After a hiatus from fashion, Von Furstenberg reintroduced her brand in 1997, repositioning it as a global luxury-lifestyle brand that offers everything from ready-to-wear, accessories and shoes to leather goods and fine jewelry.

Headquartered in New York City, the brand now has 1,500 points of sale in more than 55 countries.