OverDressed for Life

I don’t pretend I do original things. Dresses aren’t creations. Since a dress was a dress, it had two sleeves and one skirt.

– Diane von Furstenberg in 1973.

She may not do original things, but she does original things to things – namely, the dress. This year Ms. von Furstenberg celebrates the 40th anniversary of her iconic wrap-dress. What was a wardrobe staple for every working woman in the 1970s has endured over the decades and become an American fashion classic.

Claire McCardell’s Pop-over dress even came with an oven mitt.

(Although, I’d like to point out that Claire McCardell designed the Pop-over dress in 1942, which was also a wrap. But that dress was intended more as a stylish pinafore that could be worn alone or over another ensemble for use at home doing the chores. It could be said that the Pop-over was the first wrap dress for working women and Ms. von Furstenberg designed a modern update.)

Usually made of  jersey, Ms. von Furstenberg’s wrap-dress creates a slinky, sexy look and was a favorite at Studio 54. Cybill Shepherd wore it in the 1976 film Taxi Driver and Amy Adams sports a vintage Wrap in American Hustle. Michelle Obama donned the dress for the family’s first Christmas card from the White House. Madonna says she puts on The Wrap whenever she wants to look respectable.

Ms. von Furstenberg admits that although she’s always been grateful to The Wrap for paying all her bills, for a long time she took it for granted. Until she realized, hey this really is something.

Part of the year-long celebrations includes an exhibit, Journey of a Dress, which runs through April 1, 2014 at the Wilshire May Company Building in Los Angeles.