Diane von Furstenberg Labels: History and How to Date Them
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Diane von Furstenberg's jersey wrap dress, introduced in the early 1970s, is one of the defining garments of the decade. Because she relaunched the wrap dress in 1997 and reissues period prints, the label mark over the "u" in her name is a useful first check.
Company history
Our 1970s hub says the clinging jersey wrap dress is usually dated to 1972 or 1973 (citing Wikipedia), and that Met curator Richard Martin pointed out the wrap form already existed. The Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG) describes the classic version as cotton jersey, usually with long sleeves and French cuffs, popular in the mid-1970s. Since 1977 she has concentrated on licensing. In 1997 she relaunched her wrap dresses, and each season has included a reissued print or two from her 1970s collections.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Umlaut (two dots) over the "u" | Earliest vintage label | Early 1970s production |
| Slash or curved mark over the "u", or no mark | Later labels | Not the earliest run |
| Licensed products | From 1977 | Not the original dress business |
| Relaunched wrap dresses, some in reissued 1970s prints | From 1997 | Modern; check the care label |
What it helps date
- Early wrap dresses belong to the mid-1970s disco era described in our hub.
- Modern care labels and symbols separate a 1997 or later reissue from an original: care labels, reproduction vs antique.
Values
The 1970s hub gives wrap dress ranges of $15 to $40, $40 to $150 and $150 to $220 by condition (Poshmark sold listings). Prices are estimates as of 2026.
check sold prices for diane von furstenberg vintage wrap dress on eBay
Sources
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Guides that mention Diane von Furstenberg
- 1970s Vintage Clothing: How to Date and Value ItDate and value 1970s clothing: hippie, prairie, disco and designer-jeans looks, polyester and Qiana, care labels from 1972, and 2026 price ranges.
Related
- Dating Vintage Clothing by the Care LabelHow US, Canadian and European care labels date a garment: the 1971 FTC rule, the 1983 rewrite, 1997 symbols, and the clues that fool people.
- Reproduction vs Antique Clothing: How to TellUse fibres, fasteners, seam finishes, labels and silhouette to tell a real Victorian or Edwardian garment from a costume, revival dress or reproduction.
- ACWA Union Labels: History and How to Date ThemDate men's suits, coats and shirts by the ACWA union label: the first label of 1916, the 1949 design with and without the registered mark, and ACTWU.
- Adrian Labels: History and How to Date ThemAdrian Original and Adrian Custom labels explained: Gilbert Adrian's move from MGM costume design to his own Beverly Hills house, and suit values.