CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Show: Diane von Furstenberg Tears Up During Intro Speech

Last night, (October 21) the CFDA and Vogue held a Fashion Fund show. According to Pret-a-Reporter, it was an occasion for the CFDA/Vogue annual competition's top finalists to present their work at the Chateau Marmont - as well as a time to reflect on the passing of Oscar de la Renta.

"We had something very sad happen," said designer Diane von Furstenberg, starting off her speech while holding back tears. "He was an incredible friend, incredible designer. He was a great American designer with Latin roots and European training. He was incredible... Actually, Reese [Witherspoon] is wearing an Oscar dress in the issue [of Vogue] this month. He's just irreplaceable so I don't want to be sad, but I think that it's important that we remember him and how happy he was. He loved life, so he would not want us to be sad. I just want to say we love him and we'll never forget him. He will always stay in our hearts." 

Von Furstenberg - who was spotted pulling up to the Chateau in a white jaguar, driving herself - spoke in front of guests including Witherspoon, Jaime King, Dianna Agron, Zoe Lister-Jones and Camilla Belle.

According to Time Magazine, Diane describes de la Renta as "one of the greatest American designers ever. He adored women and made them beautiful. He loved flowers and he made women feel like flowers. He was a Renaissance man, the most elegant man, who befriended and was as beloved by queens and first ladies, as by seamstresses and gardeners."

Diane met Oscar when she first moved to New York. They became friends and she even bought a house in Connecticut to be close to him.

"Every year, my husband and I spent time with him and his wife, Annette, on our boat. He loved to swim in the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean. He was forever grateful to be alive and we are forever grateful to have known him. He will stay in our hearts forever."