Live like a Heroine with Diane von Fürstenberg

Welcome to a new chapter of Live Like a Heroine. 

And what a chapter this is. We had the rare and profound honor of speaking, early one morning, with Diane von Fürstenberg, a woman who didn’t just design clothes, but reshaped the way women see themselves, move through the world, and claim their place within it. With what appeared to be a simple dress, she changed everything. The wrap dress became a garment but most of all a symbol of freedom, confidence, and autonomy. A way for women to feel at once powerful, effortless, and entirely themselves.

Diane embodies a rare combination of strength and clarity. Her voice is precise, her convictions unwavering, her presence unmistakable. There is an intelligence in the way she speaks about life, truth, and independence always with elegance and intention. And then there is Venice. A place she has chosen as a stage for the later chapters of her life, a city she describes not as a place, but as a woman.  

And we couldn’t agree more. Through her words, you begin to understand the depth of her relationship to beauty, history, and legacy. In this conversation, Diane reflects on independence, truth, discipline, and the powerful relationship we have with ourselves. As we just got off the phone with Diane, we thought: this lady doesn’t just live as we all know, she truly defines what it means to be a heroine. 

What kind of woman did you want to become and do you feel you’ve become her?

That’s a question I’ve been asked for years and years, and I never really knew how to answer it. But a few years ago, after reading a beautiful biography of Venice, where I actually am now, I discovered that Venice was a woman. And in fact, Venice is the woman I would like to be. Because she’s not just a city. Venice is an extraordinary woman who arrived as a refugee from the mainland, who became an incredible architect, a maritime genius. She built ships, created the assembly line in the 15th century, she was a muse, a diplomat. She invented finance, merchant banking. The whole banking system actually!  So no, I’m not saying I am all of that, of course not. But she’s the woman I admire the most.

Do you feel like your life has brought you closer to that ideal?

I don’t know… everyone does what they can. But I would say that I am the woman I wanted to be in the sense that I have always told the truth, and that I became independent very, very young. That allowed me to have the life of a man in a woman’s body.

How did you build that independence? Was it difficult?

 I was very lucky because quite early on, I created a simple little dress, nothing extraordinary, but it was made of printed jersey, and it was very flattering. It arrived at the right moment. It became extremely successful, and that’s when I gained confidence. And because it was a dress, it also gave confidence to many other women. So that little dress became like a flag.

What does it feel like to see women still wearing it today with such confidence?

 It’s been a long time now, I’m an old lady, the dress was created 50 years ago. But what matters, when you reach a certain age, is what you leave behind. The legacy. And the legacy, first and foremost, is the people you’ve touched. And I’ve touched many. So that’s something beautiful. It’s the people you’ve touched, the family you’ve created, and your work. But most importantly, it’s being honest with yourself. Because the most important relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself. If you don’t lie to yourself, if you don’t lie to others, and if you believe in the power of kindness, then in the end, everything is better.

“I became independent very, very young. That allowed me to have the life of a man in a woman’s body”

What did you keep from your younger self that still guides you today?

 I’ve always talked to myself. When I was a little girl, all the time. And still now. You are your best company you know. I also kept a diary. It was the only way not to lose myself.

What are you currently seeking in terms of wellbeing or balance?

What matters is having time for yourself. For me, I walk a lot or I swim. That’s where I find a kind of meditative space. That’s the most important thing.

Do you have a daily habit that supports your energy?

Yes, it’s simply doing what you do every day. Writing my journal, eating properly… it’s consistency. In general, it’s always consistency that matters.

Do you take supplements or have something you rely on daily?

Yes, I take vitamins. I’ve just taken them, actually.

“I discovered that Venice was a woman. 
And in fact, Venice is the woman I would like to be”

Where do you go to truly reset?

At home. At home in the countryside, in Connecticut. In Venice as well. For the past few years, I’ve decided that Venice will be the setting of the later part of my life. I spend several months a year there. So it’s water, the countryside, and Venice.

What do you find there that regenerates you?

What I love in Venice is that when I look at the chaos of the world, I can look at my ceiling and tell myself: this has been here for 600 years. So it’s not so bad. It’s all the beauty humanity is capable of. That’s what I find there.

When do you feel the most aligned during the day?

 I wake up with the sun, with the light. I love those moments because everyone is still asleep, and you feel like you’re alone in the world.

What are your three life rules?

Not to lie. Not to complain. Not to get angry.

What is the best advice you’ve received and that you would pass on to women?

That fear is not an option.