Great Hera... hot on the heels of the Metropolitan’s Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy exhibit, and Diane Von Furstenberg’s Wonder Woman inspired fashion show, comes the news that Ms. DVF, the living embodiment of a modern Wonder Woman, will now be writing a Wonder Woman comic book. The book, Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be, Featuring the Adventures of Diva, Viva & Fifa, is at its core, a message about fulfillment and empowerment of women, a philosopy that is near and dear to Diane’s heart. The draw of the three heroines in the book — Diva, a leverage buyout expert, Viva, a singer, and Fifa, a burgeoning gourmand — is that they all make things happen for themselves with little or no encouragement, that and the adorable fact that their three initials add up to DVF.
In the book, Diane does not turn herself into an actual superhero, but rather relays inspiring tales about women — super or otherwise — and the life-altering and empowering choices they are often faced with making. Although the book may have a comic book look and feel, it is no less an interesting tomb to read, just check out the essays by Gloria Steinem (um, of course) and Les Daniels about the original Wonder Woman’s first adventure. The book’s witty Illustrations are by painter and illustrator Konstantin Kakanias. Mr. Kakanias is well-known for his New York Times illustrations, his couture show renderings for Vogue, and his clever watercolor drawings of his globe tripping alter ego, Mrs. Tependris.
Ms. Furstenberg told WWD during her interview, “Last weekend, I was in the car with my grandaughter Antonia, and she was reading it out loud,” she said, “I just thought, ‘What a wonderful message.’ There is a Wonder Woman in each of us, and once you understand that, you get what you want. And once you do that, you can give back.” The procedes from the comic book ($25), the accompanying special edition T-shirt ($50), and the tote ($230) will benefit Vital Choices, a company that helps to empower women. All of the items will be available via Ms. Furstenberg’s website, www.dvf.com, and her New York store on West 14 Street.