Diane von Furstenberg collaborates with Andy Warhol in 40th anniversary of the wrap dress

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of Diane von Furstenberg’s most illustrious design: the iconic wrap dress. The dress’ legacy and classic shape has proven a staple through its evolving longevity, and has paved the career of one of the fashion industry’s most prominent figures. 

To celebrate this, Diane von Furstenberg has teamed up with The Warhol Foundation to bring us PopWrap – a capsule collection of frocks, tees and accessories combining Andy Warhol’s most iconic motifs with some of the designer’s own. DVF’s original chain links and twigs are effortlessly stamped with Warhol’s colourful dollar signs and hibiscus prints, conceptually blurring the line between fashion and art. PopWrap‘s whimsical campaign was created by illustrator and photographer Alia Penner. In her signature mixed media aesthetic, Penner developed a stop-motion dream overflowing with all things 60s. 

Some things are meant to go together: peanut butter and jelly, strawberries and chocolate, and Diane and Andy. The collaboration is perfectly fun and playful, but it’s no surprise these two mesh so well. After all, they’re similarly inspired by the glamorous free spirit. The duo were good friends back in the factory days and Warhol’s portrait of Furstenberg continues to be one of his most recognised works. 

Accompanying the 40^th anniversary and PopWrap is Journey of a Dress, an artistic retrospective of 200 dresses that represent the history of the wrap design. The exhibition also features portraits of Furstenberg by Warhol, Leibovitz and other contemporary designers. In true Warholian fashion, opening night was dripping with superstars. The exhibit is free and open to the public through March in the gallery of the Wilshire May Department Building, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA.

This is no doubt a big year for Diane von Furstenberg and she shows no signs of slowing down.  Her autumn/winter 2014 collection, Bohemian Wrapsody, was shown at NYFW, the punny title paying homage to her respected history. Bear with us as we sign off with a cringe-worthy pun of our own…that’s a wrap!

Christianna Pugliese

Revenue from PopWrap will contribute to The Warhol Foundation’s efforts to fund the advancement of visual arts. Shop the collection here.   

Watch the video Art in Motion here: