Anne in Moscow...

We’ve got Moscow on the brain, and fortunately Inside DVF contributor Anne McNally was there last month for the Biennale and gave us the inside on where and what we’ll be doing when we go for the DVF restrospective next month!

STAY: For modern amenities with a twist of history stay at the Park Hyatt, which overlooks the Bolshoi Theatre. Once home to the metro pole, be sure to check out the dining room dating back to the 1930s. Or try Diane’s personal fave, The Ritz-Carlton.

EAT: Baccarat, where Russian fashion designer and doyenne Dasha Zukova, gave her pre “garage” bienale opening dinner there. Designed by the world renowned Philippe Starck, this eighteenth-century building was Europe’s biggest pharmacy, by decree of Czar Peter the Great. It’s worth checking out even for a drink. 19/21 Nikolskaïa Street.

Vogue Café is the Pastis of Moscow, a great place for people watching just steps from the Bolshoi Theater and not far from Red Square. Kuznetsky most ulitsa 7/9 , tel. 495-623-1701

Stop by Arbat Street 3/9 for lunch and a mid-afternoon Bellini, the taste is as good as the price (cheap)! Another good lunch spot is Cafe Shop and Bar, a favorite spot amongst the youth of Moscow and visit the funny t-shirt store above.

“Bon” located on the waterfront is another restaurant designed by Philippe Starck, serving an interesting combination of European, Russian and Asian Cuisine.

TO DO: Lenin’s Mausoleum, better known as” Lenin’s Tomb, and located in Red Square it is the mausoleum that is the resting place of Vladimir Lenin.  After visiting Lenin’s Mausoleum take a tour of the neighboring Kremlin.

Visit the “Seven Sisters” the English name given to a group of Moscow skyscrapers built by Stalin between 1947 and 1953 to compete with American buildings.

Make sure to take a ride on the subway, which has the most beautiful stations in stain glass, marble, stucco and ceramics….a Moscow must!

SHOP: Gum, a beautiful shopping arcade right off the Red Square, with a plethora of international shops. And of course, visit the DVF shops

Moscow, here we come! As reported in WWD yesterday, DVF is heading to Moscow for Diane von Furstenberg: Journey of a Dress, a retrospective on the fashions and life of Diane. Curated by Andre Leon Talley, the exhibition will debut on October 30th, at the Manezh Central Exhibition hall in Moscow and will run through November 22nd, 2009.

It will feature paintings and photographs from Diane’s personal archive, including works by Andy Warhol, Francesco Clemente, Anh Duong, Helmut Newton, Mario Testino, and Francesco Scavullo. There will also be original family photos and letters, and did we mention the fashions? Over 40 looks from throughout her career will be on display, from the wrap dresses of 1973 to present day collections.

Stay tuned for inside photos of us setting up the exhibit and the big opening night soiree in Moscow. Not to mention for news about where Journey of a Dress will be journeying next…

Third time is a charm! This week, Michelle Obama wore DVF not once, not twice, but three times. We love her passion for fashion and are proud to have her choose DVF for these monumental moments!

Check Mrs. O for more First Lady fashion…

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DVF'ers at the Downs

This past Saturday was the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby and DVF took Churchill Downs by storm.  Even the dismal forecast couldn’t damper the anticipation of the most exciting two minutes in sports, and fans came out in droves to be a part of the excitement. This year’s Derby winner may have been a long-shot, but one thing was certain: when it came to Derby attire, DVF was a winning bet.  Dresses from Resort and Spring collections were spotted throughout the day at the races and all were accompanied with a traditional derby hat, of course!

Shop Derby-worthy dresses…

DVF, The Original Proud to be Woman

Last but certainly not least in our celebration of International Women’s Day, we check in with the ultimate Proud to be Woman–DVF–to hear her take on why she celebrates womanhood not just every day of March, but every day of the year!

What inspires you? Women inspire me.

What makes you Proud to be a Woman? I am proud to be a woman precisely when I watch other women…their courage and strength inspire me.

What did you celebrate this month? I celebrate myself and other women every day…I celebrate who we are and who we can be.

Read all of the Proud to be Woman Celebrations