--- title: Hospital Chic image: https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/100%20Stories/Hospital%20Chic/Hospital-Chic-1200x630.jpg --- [![Cleveland Clinic Magazine - Giving Does Good](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/100%20Stories/100%20Stories%20-%20Homepage/CC_Magazine_BlackLogo-Mobile.png?noresize&width=224&height=38&name=CC_Magazine_BlackLogo-Mobile.png) ![Cleveland Clinic Magazine - Giving Does Good](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/100%20Stories/100%20Stories%20-%20Homepage/CC_Magazine_BlackLogo-Desktop-2.png?noresize&width=552&height=65&name=CC_Magazine_BlackLogo-Desktop-2.png)](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) # Hospital Chic By Diane von Furstenberg ## Share - [Share on facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/hospital-chic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) - [Share on twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/hospital-chic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/hospital-chic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) - [Share on linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/hospital-chic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) - [Share on email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20Hospital%20Chic%20&body=Check%20out%20https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/hospital-chic&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) When I was first approached by Cleveland Clinic to design patient gowns, I was taken aback. I thought, “Why?” But then I understood: It’s about the dignity of the patient.  It all starts with the person. As a designer, I always care about how the clothing makes a person feel. If the person is a patient, it’s even more important.  You don’t want to draw attention to the gown, but you want it to be as flattering as it possibly can. I like fashion to be functional anyway. In this case, it truly had to be functional. I wanted to make it flattering, too.  It was a nice challenge. I worked with the nurses to learn all about the technical aspects of the gown, then I designed a print. The gowns come in different sizes. To make it easier to grab the right size, I made every size a different color.  When I visited Cleveland Clinic, I was impressed by the overall experience, by the spirit, by the respect for the patient. That’s very important. When you go to the doctor, the doctor does what she or he is supposed to do, but if you’re the patient, it’s important that you’re not passive. The patient needs to participate in the healing.  I was happy to see how much Cleveland Clinic pays attention to details. I respect them for that.    *Diane von Furstenberg has been a fashion icon since the 1970s, when her wrap dresses became all the rage. The patient gowns that she designed for Cleveland Clinic made their debut in 2010.*  ![Diane von Furstenberg wearing designed hospital gown ](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/100%20Stories/Hospital%20Chic/Hospital-Chic-950x950.jpg?width=950&height=950&name=Hospital-Chic-950x950.jpg) Photo: Cleveland Clinic ## Keep Reading Explore more moments from authors Shuffle Stories ## Fall 2021 Issue A Landmark Study Seeks Cures for Neurological Diseases...Vision First Van Rolls On...The Birthplace of Cleveland Clinic...Medical Scribes Make a Difference ### [![Digital artwork of an orange head and multi-colored circles and lines](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/100%20Stories/MiniMag-Thumbnail.jpg?width=610&height=316&name=MiniMag-Thumbnail.jpg) Brain Gain](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-fall?hsLang=en) - [Story Collection](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories?hsLang=en) - [Archive](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/archive?hsLang=en) - [Contact](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/contact?hsLang=en) - [Subscribe](https://donate.clevelandclinic.org/sign-up?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) [![Cleveland Clinic](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine%20Template%20Assets/img/logo-cc.png?width=300&name=logo-cc.png "Cleveland Clinic")](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/) © 2026 Cleveland Clinic. All rights reserved. - [Story Collection](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories?hsLang=en) - [Authors](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/authors?hsLang=en) - [Archive](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/archive?hsLang=en) - [Contact](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-100-stories/contact?hsLang=en) - [Subscribe](https://donate.clevelandclinic.org/sign-up?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) ## Featured ### [![Thumb](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Mini%20Magazine/Thumb.jpg?width=242&height=290&name=Thumb.jpg) Fall 2021 A Landmark Study Seeks Cures for Neurological Diseases...Vision First Van Rolls On...The Birthplace of Cleveland Clinic...Medical Scribes Make a Difference.](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2021-fall?hsLang=en)