Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2014

40 and fabulous; that was the happy theme of Diane von Furstenberg’s collection for fall 2014.

Of course, in case you haven’t heard, the DVF label is celebrating its 40^th anniversary. An exhibit currently mounted in Los Angeles through April 1 celebrates von Furstenberg, her label and its iconic wrap dress, an item that the Los Angeles Times said equaled the tee shirt and blue jeans when it came to cultural impact.

For her fall 2014 collection at New York Fashion Week, Furstenberg dubbed her show  “Bohemian Wrapsody.” Despite the corny-clever title, this was actually a beautiful celebration, not just of the wrap dress that made von Furstenberg and her label famous, but of the DVF label and its particular brand of fabulousness.

More than many labels these days, the DVF label is most definitely a personal extension of the woman at the helm. The clothes evoke the luxe lifestyle that von Furstenberg lives—whether that means being on the right side of the velvet rope at the hottest club on the planet or jetting off to an exotic location while sipping champagne on a private jet.

The fall 2014 collection certainly continued to sell that story to its fans with clothes that not only celebrated the wrap dress—one dress actually featured the same darts as the original wrap dress, but showed how the label has expanded. Jackets and coats were especially noteworthy here, adding a modern touch to the classic pieces we’ve come to know and love.

And as much as the wrap dress is iconic DVF, the other part of the DVF oeuvre is the designer’s use of bold graphic patterns. The fall 2014 collection utilized some especially vibrant patterns including diamonds, scallops, and stars and stars. The combination of styling, color and pattern produced some of von Furstenberg’s best work. These were fashion-forward looks that were as contemporary as anything else being shown during New York Fashion Week.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere was a finale of shiny gold creations—from wrap dresses and a wrap shorts jumpsuit to halter styles and shifts with sexy, plunging fronts.

Now that’s the way to celebrate.

—Karyn D. Collins