DVF: There's No Rest For The Injured

OUCH! Queen of fashion and CFDA president, Diane Von Furstenberg was in Aspen with her husband earlier this week when out on the slopes, she was involved in a skiing accident.

“Some Brazilian man, who could not ski, lost control and went straight at me, hitting me badly on my face and ribs (with his camera),” Von Furstenberg wrote in an email. “I went to the emergency room and then flew to UCLA. I look like Mike Tyson on his worst fight. Broken nose and some light facial fractures. At home in L.A. now waiting to heal. Will be staying here the week because I have my children and grandkids. I guess it could have been worse…but it does NOT look pretty (styleite.com).”

Although horribly inconvenient timing (as fashion week quickly approaches), don't worry about Ms. Von Furstenberg! While healing, the power woman even crafted standards for the CFDA Health Initiatives for those involved in the fashion industry in an effort to keep models healthy:

Educate the industry to identify the early warning signs in an individual at risk of developing an eating disorder.·

Encourage models who may have an eating disorder to seek professional help in order to continue modeling. And models who are receiving professional help for an eating disorder should not continue modeling without that professional’s approval.

Develop workshops for the industry (including models and their families) on the nature of eating disorders, how they arise, how we identify and treat them, and complications if they are untreated.

Support the well-being of younger individuals by not hiring models under the age of sixteen for runway shows; not allowing models under the age of eighteen to work past midnight at fittings or shoots; and providing regular breaks and rest. (Consult the applicable labor laws found at www.labor.state.ny.us when working with models under sixteen.)

Supply healthy meals, snacks, and water backstage and at shoots and provide nutrition and fitness education.

Promote a healthy backstage environment by raising the awareness of the impact of smoking and tobacco-related disease among women, ensuring a smoke-free environment, and address underage drinking by prohibiting alcohol.

Do you think this is a step in the right direction for the fashion industry? Can you think of any other guidelines that should be added to this list?

Photo courtesy of nymag.com