Diane von Furstenberg’s “The Woman I Wanted To Be” gets published Oct. 28. “I put my soul into it,” she said. “One who’s known me 35 years helped with the structure and architecture. But it’s me speaking. I sat at my computer weekends. I’d work 5 a.m. to 8. I’m up daily around dawn and go to sleep between 11:30 and 1. You cannot sleep longer because how much time do any of us have left in life?
“My mother survived being a prisoner in Auschwitz. She wasn’t supposed to have children — and then she had me. I tell about my roots, my parents, who taught me one must never fear. Never be a victim. Fear is not an option.
“I’m full of failures. The journey’s ups and downs. A collection is designed through inspiration. I follow instinct, but sometimes it’s not good. My mother taught me to transform any situation into victory. Good can come from bad.
“I do yoga. I meditate. I eat healthy. I love family. I’m curious. My biggest strength is I take responsibility. I don’t blame weather. I don’t blame anybody. I even travel alone — no entourage. I was a good little girl in school who always wanted to learn. And always wanted to be a sophisticated woman.
“I tell women if you have a waist, wraps are great. Either wrap the body or let it loose. Clothes must flow. With today’s styles it’s the street that leads the pack. And always in exaggeration there’s a trend. But if you are older, don’t try to look young like a 17-year-old girl.
“I wrote this book with no sugarcoating. It’s honest. Like therapy. I’ve known days where I wake up thinking I’m the biggest loser. Other women can feel like that. But know that looking at a woman across the room thinking she’s perfect, realize she’s across the room looking at you thinking you’re perfect.”
Odds & ends
Be it known Audra McDonald flew from Atlanta and back at her expense to sing at Joan’s funeral…
Restaurateurs complaining that in aulden days spenders ordered a bottle of wine. Now they order by the glass…
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a Yankee fan, hit the stadium with her upstate brother for Derek Jeter’s sign-off…
Pay attention
Atlantic City’s broke. Yesterday its Taj Mahal announced bankruptcy — but The Donald trumps everyone. He cashed out of busted A.C. seven years ago…
John Catsimatidis, mayoral candidate for the Republican Party, still makes parties. This one was for his birthday at Le Cirque…
The smallest in the George Bush progeny, learning Gramps headed the CIA, asked: “What did you do with the aliens from outer space?”
Anchor’s on the mend
Channel 1 anchor Roma Torre doing well after colon surgery. “I work out. Daily I walk a mile. They told me 14 revolutions around the hospital floor equals a mile, so I do that. My new diet’s fish, pasta, sushi — no fiber, vegetables, salads, fruits, which once was my usual food — for a month.
“The condition was Stage 2 so maybe chemo, maybe, every two weeks for a short while, but not the tough version where you lose hair.
“I’m grateful this brought awareness to others because so far 150 people made the appointment to have themselves checked as a result of what happened to me.”
Roma’s back at work in October.
Out of Africa
A top Israeli official: Israel has been of major assistance to Africa. Their countries’ ambassadors could repay us by just coming over to see for themselves what we are, what we’ve become, what we’ve made with our lands — and then go back and tell the world. Right now that could help us.
So this Park Avenue lady in a penthouse is hosting an anniversary party and very next day giving a dinner party. Why such big evenings back to back?
Answer: “Because otherwise I’d have to buy fresh flowers. This way I don’t waste them and I save money.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.