The Woman I Wanted to Be

by Diane Von Furstenberg

First published 2014

Diane von Furstenberg opens her memoir by looking back at the young woman who left Brussels with nothing but a suitcase of jersey dresses and fierce determination. She wanted to become independent, the type of woman who never relies on men to cover her expenses. The book traces her transformation from European princess to fashion mogul who created the wrap dress that became a symbol of female empowerment. Von Furstenberg writes candidly about building her global empire while raising children, whom she calls her greatest accomplishment. She shares her battle with cancer and her commitment to helping other women find their strength. The memoir reveals how she turned a simple dress design into a movement that gave women both style and confidence. Von Furstenberg closes by affirming her belief that every woman possesses the power to become exactly who she dreams of being.

Genres: business, autobiography, biography-memoir, fashion-designers, fashion, fashion-design

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: rags-to-riches, self-made

Setting: Brussels

Period: 20th-century, 21st-century

256 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster

Content warnings: terminal-illness

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