At just 24 years old, Diane von Furstenberg arrived in New York City with a suitcase filled with Italian-made printed jersey dresses. Little did she know that four years later, her journey would revolutionize the world of fashion, giving birth to an enduring symbol of feminine empowerment—the iconic wrap dress.

In 1974, the fashion world witnessed the birth of the wrap dress, a creation that became an instant sensation. Fast forward to the present day, and the silhouette remains a global symbol of personal freedom, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

In honor of the wrap dress’s anniversary, a limited-edition capsule is set to be released beginning February 1, 2024, as part of the DVF Spring 2024 collection, appropriately titled “The First Woman.” Consisting of sixteen pieces, the celebratory lineup features six updated signature jersey wrap dresses adorned with a new birthday print, showcasing a black and white crossword puzzle design that spells out powerful DVF mantras—because who wouldn’t want some motivation from Diane? Reversible mesh pieces, combining heritage prints with a green interpretation of the Python print, add a contemporary flair to this special capsule.

Preceding the capsule, the story of Diane von Furstenberg and the little jersey wrap dress came alive in the pages of Woman Before Fashion, a book released by Rizzoli back in September 2023. Edited by curator Nicolas Lor, the fashion tome complements his exhibition in honor of von Furstenberg’s life and career, hosted at the Fashion & Lace Museum in her native city of Brussels, Belgium—which opened its doors in April 2023 and ran until January 2024.

Throughout the past five decades, the wrap dress has experienced continuous comebacks over the past five decades. Younger generations continue to rediscover the timeless piece in vintage stores or their mothers’ wardrobes, igniting a revival of sorts for a new range of women to discover the dress’s impact. Today, the wrap dress continues to shine in that same effect as it finds a place in the hearts of Gen-Z through DVF’s rewrap.com, a new preloved marketplace launched by the fashion house.

“Some people say I created the wrap dress but, really, the wrap dress created me”

– Diane von Furstenberg