About a week before New York Fashion Week, the CFDA, helmed by Diane von Furstenberg, re-released a set of health initiative guidelines issued in 2007 to address concerns over the health of models. Regarding the age of models, the guidelines stipulate that designers should, “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.)”

Only at her show last week, von Furstenberg didn’t practice what she preaches. It seems that 15-year-old Hailey Clauson (we’re pretty sure she’s the 15-year-old in question) walked in the designer’s fall 2011 show.

A source just forwarded an email from DVF to “colleagues and designers,” in which she admitted, “it is to my horror, that I discovered last Friday that in spite of me repeating that to my production and casting people, one girl slipped through the cracks. One girl who will be 16 in March walked my show last week!”

Von Furstenberg goes on to apologize profusely for the oversight, which, considering the fashion industry’s fondness for the under-16 set and the mayhem of fashion week, is understandable. (Daphne Groeneveld covered the controversial Tom Ford guest-edited issue of French Vogue, booked a Miu Miu campaign and walked for Calvin Klein, Prada and Jil Sander all at 15.) “I was horrified and terribly embarrassed,” von Furstenberg continues in her email. “From now on I will instruct my casting people to demand ID’s. I encourage you to do the same…Please accept my apology. I am trying to be a good leader and set an example…so please please accept my apology.”

Considering DVF spent last Friday telling Tina Brown how embarrassed she was for fueling the Michelle Obama McQueen controversy, her week is off to a rough start.

The email in full:

Dear Colleagues and Designers,

I hope you are all resting from NY Fashion Week and that you are having great results from buyers and press.

As you remember, I sent you all a letter prior to the shows, emphasizing healthy models and diversity, and reminding you of our Health Guidelines.

One of the guidelines, as you know, is not to hire models under 16 in addition to making sure that all of them are properly fed.

Well, it is to my horror, that I discovered last Friday that in spite of me repeating that to my production and casting people, one girl slipped through the cracks. One girl who will be 16 in March walked my show last week!

I was horrified and terribly embarrassed. From now on I will instruct my casting people to demand ID’s. I encourage you to do the same.

Please accept my apology. I am trying to be a good leader and set an example…so please please accept my apology.

Love to you all.

Diane von Furstenberg