Prince and internationally acclaimed fashion designer. Egon von Furstenberg was a Swiss-born aristocrat who started his fashion career as a buyer for a New York department store and went on to be known as the “prince of high fashion.” Born Prince Eduard Egon zu Fürstenberg in Lausanne, Switzerland, he was the descendant of a noble German family via his father, Prince Tassillo zu Fürstenberg. His mother was Clara Agnelli, from the Italian Fiat automotive family. Von Furstenberg was destined to a banking career and completed his economics degree at the University of Geneva and then emigrated to New York where he became a buyer for Macy’s department store. After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology at night, he began desiging clothes for women wearing large sizes and in 1975 came out with a line of pullovers and men’s shirts. After issuing a total of 11 licenses for his fashionwear lines, he moved with his company to Rome in the 1980s where he was known for his high fashion collections, especially his concentration on color and a romantic look. Considered both eccentric and elegant, his creations included gowns or shorter dresses in bright hues like purples, yellows or reds, often with plunging necklines, slits or daring rear views.
Prince and internationally acclaimed fashion designer. Egon von Furstenberg was a Swiss-born aristocrat who started his fashion career as a buyer for a New York department store and went on to be known as the “prince of high fashion.” Born Prince Eduard Egon zu Fürstenberg in Lausanne, Switzerland, he was the descendant of a noble German family via his father, Prince Tassillo zu Fürstenberg. His mother was Clara Agnelli, from the Italian Fiat automotive family. Von Furstenberg was destined to a banking career and completed his economics degree at the University of Geneva and then emigrated to New York where he became a buyer for Macy’s department store. After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology at night, he began desiging clothes for women wearing large sizes and in 1975 came out with a line of pullovers and men’s shirts. After issuing a total of 11 licenses for his fashionwear lines, he moved with his company to Rome in the 1980s where he was known for his high fashion collections, especially his concentration on color and a romantic look. Considered both eccentric and elegant, his creations included gowns or shorter dresses in bright hues like purples, yellows or reds, often with plunging necklines, slits or daring rear views.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
Family Members
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See more von Fürstenberg memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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