Customer Reviews

Diane: A Signature Life

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Yes, she came from a privileged background, and had many doors opened for her as a result, but definitely deserves all credit for what she made of those opportunities. She plays down the business side of herself, preferring to highlight the creative aspects of her personality, but underneath it all, she does seem to possess a sharp business sense and an intuition for how to best position and market her products. Also, the ability to constantly reinvent herself, and seek out new ideas comes through in the book. Her success story is inspiring.

On the negative side, there was too much name-dropping. Some parts were annoyingly elitist - I think she must have said at least half a dozen times in the book (or at least it seems that way) that her ex-husband was a prince whose bloodline descends from the roman empire (or some other empire, don't remember). Connections to royalty are mentioned in awestruck tones, which is grating on the nerve. There is also a lot of touting of her own achievements - admittedly the pride is well deserved, but some subtlety in talking about it would have been classier.

I'm not a follower of fashion or the society pages, but you don't have to be to love this book. It's a great business story, and a poignant look at an extraordinary woman's life. It has glamour, romance, sex, love, business triumphs and disappointments, motherhood, royalty, the Holocaust, cancer, literature, and more fresh starts than you can count. What a life.

Diane lets us inside her very glamourous life. she takes us from the 60's to the 90's. her life is full of fashion, family, friends and love. i really enjoyed this book and have a new admiration for diane.

Ms. Von Furstenberg has really opened-up to her public. She reveals much about the trials and tribulations of her past and present businesses, of being a princess and a socialite; an entrepreneur and a single-mother; and, all the while, a successful woman. She openly shares with her readers her feelings and insecurities, as well as her setbacks and triumphs. I think women around the globe can relate to, learn from, and find inspiration in her story.

Diane gives us a facinating glimpse into her world of the fast lane of the 70s and the glamous life which she led. But a glimpse is all we really get and Diane spares us many details which she must have felt would offend the people still important in her life. Further, while she ostensibly takes responsibility for how her businesses went horribly wrong, we somehow get the feeling that everyone else was to blame. Hey, the next time you license your products to Sears, please take a step inside. You will see that it's not Saks! In sum, a fun read but it not a revealing biography or any kind of a business book.

I absolutely loved this book and finished it in 2 days. Diane is real, honest and candid about her life and inspires women to be women!

I'm a huge fan of DvF...and I agree with all the reviews written about this book so far. It is indeed a fascinating story about making the most of what you're given and Diane was given very much. She parlayed different opportunities into very successful personal and business ventures. That being said, she does indulge a bit too much into the whole "my ex husband the prince" and the "my son and daughter are descended from Charlemagne" (or whatever it was) did get a bit thick, but I enjoyed this book thoroughly and recommend it to interested readers.

This book is very interesting. YOu get to learn about the fashion industry and what to expect. Since I myself am interested in entering the fashion world as a career this book helped me understand that at times buisness may be stressful but always worthwhile. Diane von Furstenberg is a women that went through many hardships but was dedicated to her work, and someday i hope to do my work as succesfully as she did.
-amanda, Grayslake

This has to be one of the most insipid tales yet told. It's promoted as "she didn't have to work - but she did". She did? When? Where? Look - don't promote an idea and then tell the story that completely contrasts it. This person has yet to understand what "work" is. This book is a story of a rich person who uses connections to get richer. Wow! - what a story!
Now if it was about a person who worked from nothing - and built a brand like the rest of us schleps would have to, then I'd say she did something - "she worked"! But not the case here, even though she portrays it that way. Unconvincing and boring.