American Express Woman

(NEW YORK) Diane von Furstenberg may have cancelled her annual pre-Oscars lunch, but that doesn't mean her presence won't be felt come Oscar night. The designer and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America was tapped by American Express to appear in a one-minute commercial that will premiere on February 24. The television spot was created and directed by Bennett Miller, who was nominated for a Best Director Oscar for his work on the 2005 film Capote. The project with von Furstenberg, who was also photographed by Annie Leibovitz for a complementary print campaign, is just the latest push American Express is making to gain further entrée into the rarified fashion world, and their involvement is expected to grow exponentially come September's round of shows.

American Express last month announced their involvement in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week by way of a series of events and initiatives for their card members, including a series of by-invitation-only experiences and the American Express Skybox. The organization also pledged a $500,000 donation to the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Most recently, American Express presented an exclusive Peter Som fashion show at the Bryant Park Tents on Wednesday to elite card members who were given the same kind of VIP treatment the fashion industry's most elite insiders are privy to.