Egon Von Furstenberg

Prince Egon Von Furstenberg was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1946. His father, Tassilo, came from a family line of old German nobility while his mother, Clara, was a member of the Agnelli family, founders of Fiat, the leading Italian car manufacturing group. As a young man, Egon Von Furstenberg traveled between Italy, Austria and the United States, the latter of which he considered his second home. He was educated in Switzerland where he obtained an Economics degree at Geneva University.

With a highly eclectic and glamorous personality, Von Furstenberg became well known for his other accomplishments beside couture. In 1978 he wrote a best-selling book titled The Power Look, a basic guide to fashion and design. Soon after came The Power Look at Home: Decorating for Men, a bachelor’s interior design handbook, which inspired the interior design firm he opened in 1981. He also made his debut on television shows and in movies.

By 1990, he had introduced wedding dresses and evening gowns into his collection and was presenting his work through fashion shows in Europe and the USA. He opened his first atelier in Rome in 1991, a year which marked the kick off of Von Furstenberg haute couture. One memorable show during Rome’s fashion week gained publicity as his models showed his work walking down the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna instead of a traditional catwalk.

Egon Von Furstenberg