Diane von Furstenberg designs hospital gowns at Cleveland Clinic that lose peek-a-boo back

Diane von Furstenberg designs Ohio hospital gowns

CLEVELAND — Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg has helped the Cleveland Clinic create a more stylish hospital gown without the peek-a-boo back.

The gown features elements associated with von Furstenberg designs — a wrap dress with a bold, graphic print. The clinic’s logo is printed on the fabric.

The gown has side ties, which eliminate the embarrassing open-back look.

The Plain Dealer says the fabric was chosen to address a concern that patients were too warm in the hospital.

So designers had to find a material lightweight enough to be cool but tough enough to withstand frequent laundering and having monitors and drains pinned to it.

Feedback has been mostly positive. Some men have complained that the gown is too feminine, so the design team is condering an alternate print.

Information from: The Plain Dealer, www.cleveland.com