FEELING FAINT: Diane von Furstenberg was the toast of Milan Sunday night as Lapo Elkann and Franca Sozzani hosted a party in her honor, and curated a visual homage to the designer at Elkann’s Italia Independent headquarters in Milan, lodged in a warehouse space.
“I was 20 and wearing three hairpieces,” von Furstenberg said as she pointed at one of the images of her plastered on the wall. “Milan is where I started out in fashion and also where I discovered I was pregnant with my first son.” She related how she once fainted in San Babila Square only to later discover she was expecting. “Now I have to get married, I thought, and [Prince Egon Von Furstenberg] was the best catch and everyone will think I did it on purpose, while I so wanted to be independent,” she said.
Wearing Philipp Plein, Mischa Barton said she’d just wrapped shooting indie film “Ben Banks” in St. George, Utah, slated for release in 2011. “It’s a quirky film, and I play a romantic lead,” said Barton of the flick, written and directed by Bryce Clark. Barton plans to hit Paris later this week, “to see friends,” she added. “Another night, another party,” said Anna Wintour, summing up Milan’s high-octane week.
The party drew guests including Richard E. Grant, the week’s ubiquitous Jada Pinkett Smith, Peter Dundas, Laudomia Pucci, Fendi’s Michael Burke, DJ Leigh Lezark, Bianca Brandolini d’Adda, Tommaso Aquilano, Roberto Rimondi and Roberta Armani. “We’re Armani so we have energy in our DNA,” joked the designer’s niece and brand ambassador, commenting on the action-packed week. “It’s been great for young designers and the city,” added Diego Delle Valle.