Diane von Furstenberg's Moscow Exhibition

This weekend in Moscow's Manezh Exhibition Hall, designer Diane von Furstenberg is being feted for her colorful life and career. "Journey of Dress," an exhibition that was curated by her good friend André Leon Talley, spans 35 years and touches on everything from her first famed garment to disco days at Studio 54 to her current CFDA presidency.

In honor of the occasion, we caught with the designer to talk art, fashion, and her emotional connection to Russia.

StyleList: How did this exhibition come about?
Diane von Furstenberg: I have had two stores in Moscow for a while and I actually haven't been over there to do PR and things like that. I knew this was going to happen in the fall. Over the summer I was with Natalia Vodianova and I said, 'will you be there for me and come to Russia?' She said, 'Of course but what are you going to do?' I said, 'I'm going to do a fashion show and speak at the school of journalism.' You know, the usual things that I do. And she told me, 'But you know in Russia, people would love to know your history, your Warhols and Studio 54 and all of that.' So this is how it all happened.

SL: What can people expect?
DVF: It's going to be held in a huge state museum in Red Sqaure with all of the original art. It's 6,000 square feet. Fashion divided by art. The dresses range from 1976 to 2007. Everything will be broken into four vignettes: Luxe, Studio 54, American Dream, and Empowerment, or Working Girl. So there will be all the fashion then artwork by Francesco Clemente, Andy Warhol...

SL: Where do keep your famous wrap dresses?
DVF: I have a huge archive in my house in Connecticut.

SL: Do you ever wear the original ones?
DVF: I personally, well you know, I'm 30 years older so...

SL: Will this become a traveling exhibition?
DVF: I think it will be. There has been interest in it from people in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Washington D.C. It all happened quite naturally, but I've never presented it in this way. My father was born in Russia back in 1929, so I'm doing this 80 years later. It's very emotional.