The Weird, True History Of The Wrap Dress

It's hard to deny the wrap dress' icon status — for 40 years, it's been one of the hardest working garments in any hard-working woman's wardrobe. Invented by Diane von Furstenberg in 1974, the frock is flattering, versatile, and easy to wear, pack, and style. So, it's no wonder the wrap dress has played a huge role in the lives of two generations of women.

But, did you know that in the beginning, the wrap dress wasn't a dress at all? Says von Furstenberg, "It started as a wrap top and skirt, and I thought it would make a simple and sexy dress. I had no idea it would be such a phenomenon. It was so effortless, and it allowed women to go to work and still feel like women…I used to travel all over the country, meeting someone in different cities and helping them to tie their wrap dresses. I could always see the way it changed a woman once she put it on…It was a very empowering thing for me, and for them."

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the wrap dress, DVF is asking anyone with a personal connection to the piece to send in stories and photos (and let's be serious — we probably all have one). Your anecdotes and tokens will be shared on dvfwrapstory.com for an upcoming project.