Donna's Journal

The Handcrafted Belt A Jason Ross’ hand-crafting process is as...

notesonacity — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:25:58 -0400

The Handcrafted Belt

A Jason Ross’ hand-crafting process is as unique as the belts he designs. Once Donna and design director Peter Speliopoulos set the season’s mood, Jason and his team develop prototypes in the spirit of the collection, inspired by their archive of antiques, old tools and images sourced from museums and libraries. They fashion working prototypes, each with original custom-designed buckles, which are narrowed to final selections by Donna and Peter. Then the magic begins. Each belt is entirely hand-assembled using tools that leatherworkers have used for centuries. The strap is individually cut from a full leather hide, then carefully hand-dyed in up to four coats to fit the season’s color story. An exclusive combination of oils and waxes are applied to the leather for its signature luxurious look and feel. The buckle, cast in solid brass or nickel silver, is hand-finished to achieve the uniquely antiqued patina. Additionally, each rivet is hand-ground and polished, with no two rivets exactly alike. The final touch comes from an antique hot-stamping machine, which brands each belt with “A. Jason Ross for Donna Karan” and its provenance, “Made in the USA”.

Thinking about MotherhoodI’ve been thinking a lot about...

notesonacity — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:24:59 -0400

Thinking about Motherhood

I’ve been thinking a lot about motherhood and what it means to be a mother; it’s is a subject that I’ve shared my heart and soul on many times. I am a mother and grandmother and my maternal instincts have fueled not only my familial relationships, but also my desire to bring mind, body and spirit into my life as a businesswoman and philanthropist.

This spectrum of motherhood spans across so many things and, in my opinion, highlights what’s most important. This week, I was an extra proud mama. I had the extraordinary pleasure of witnessing my daughter, Gabby, being honored at the Solving Kids Cancer’s Annual Gala. I was bursting with pride watching Gabby receive the “Wings of Hope” award for her tireless support of such a necessary and important issue. And, I’m delighted to share that evening was a fantastic success bringing in over $440,000 to fund new treatment options for kids.

As I write this, I am back in Haiti, a place where I tune into my maternal intuition constantly. As women, we are creators and the desire to give birth is woven into the essence of who we are – whether we birth babies, businesses or ideas is entirely up to us – but our ability to create is an amazing offering; an offering that the world needs.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day, I want to encourage each and every one of you to reach into your inner reserves of creativity. Tap into your unique talents and offer the world your own, authentic, brilliant, illuminated creativity.

All my love,

PRE-FALL 2013: PURE SCULPTURE Connecting the dots—day to night,...

notesonacity — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:20:00 -0400

PRE-FALL 2013: PURE SCULPTURE

Connecting the dots—day to night, season to season—

As inspired by my husband Stephan’s book and art exhibit.

Sportswear is elemental: pure in form, weightless and flexible.

Sculpted to the body, tailored to life in the city.

The palette is starkly graphic: Black. Asphalt. Ash. Slate. Henna.

Matte one minute, glistening the next.

The silhouette is sculpted, seamed and suspended—

In bonded neoprene crepe or jersey, flashed with sheer and skin.

It’s the Seven Easy Pieces with a sculptural take,

Lean to round, pared down or layered up—

The silhouette is always changing.

Start with the body foundation, whether in separates or combined into one:

The bodysuit, bodydress, seamed body skirt, skinny pants.

Then proportion as desired with the tailored finish:

The crop molded shell that skims the torso.

The peplum cinched with a stretch belt.

The elongated tailored jacket.

The kimono coat in crushed paper lightness, loose or belted.

Expand the options: The minidress that doubles as a tunic over pants.

The soft sculpture top that stands on its own.

The voluminous skirt in neoprene or taffeta.

The envelope–folded crepe trouser—liquid and pegged.

The city leather biker. The woven leather and chiffon shrug.

These are modern clothes that echo the elements of the city:

Architectural. Evolving forward. Always glamorous.

The art of the body…connected to the art of life.

To be continued…

NAOMIE HARRIS Actress Naomie Harris wears Donna Karan Atelier to...

notesonacity — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:46:34 -0400

NAOMIE HARRIS

Actress Naomie Harris wears Donna Karan Atelier to the Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition on May 6, 2013 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

JENNIFER MORRISON Actress Jennifer Morrison wears Donna Karan...

notesonacity — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:43:00 -0400

JENNIFER MORRISON

Actress Jennifer Morrison wears Donna Karan Atelier to the Costume Institue Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition on May 6, 2013 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Credit: Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

HAILEE STEINFELD Actress Hailee Steinfeld wears Donna Karan...

notesonacity — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:39:51 -0400

HAILEE STEINFELD

Actress Hailee Steinfeld wears Donna Karan Atelier to the Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.

EMMY ROSSUM Actress Emmy Rossum wears Donna Karan Atelier to the...

notesonacity — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:36:00 -0400

EMMY ROSSUM

Actress Emmy Rossum wears Donna Karan Atelier to the Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.

My American Idol This week has been all about celebrating...

notesonacity — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:01:00 -0400

My American Idol

This week has been all about celebrating Barbra – my personal American Idol.

On Monday a beautiful event honoring Barbra took place at Lincoln Center. For 40 years now the Film Society honors a distinguished film artist whose body of work and lifetime of achievements represent a significant contribution to the art of film. This year the Chaplin Award went to Barbra and was presented to her by my none other than my other American Idol: President Bill Clinton.

The evening was a montage of extraordinary performances showcasing groundbreaking moments from Barbra’s life as an artist. I sat there as a fan.

Seeing the breadth of her work was overwhelming and astonishing, even for me…I felt like I was watching my life in front of my eyes and I think everyone sort of felt this way. Barbra has been a part of our lives for decades - from film, to stage, to Broadway, to her divine voice – you name it, Barbra’s done it. When the evening came to a close, all I wanted to do was run home and watch every one of Barbra’s films all over again.

Another big milestone happened this week: Barbra’s birthday. I was thrilled to throw Barbra a birthday celebration at Urban Zen – an intimate evening that brought together our family and friends.

For the weekend, we headed to Washington D.C. for the Correspondents‘ Dinner, a perfect way to conclude our week of celebration.

All my love,

BETH BEHRS Actress Beth Behrs wore Donna Karan Atelier to the...

notesonacity — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:54:35 -0400

BETH BEHRS

Actress Beth Behrs wore Donna Karan Atelier to the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

JAIMIE ALEXANDER Jaimie Alexander wore Donna Karan Pre-Fall...

notesonacity — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:00:16 -0400

JAIMIE ALEXANDER

Jaimie Alexander wore Donna Karan Pre-Fall 2013 Look 23 to the Los Angeles special screening of Millennium Entertainment’s ‘The Iceman’ at ArcLight Hollywood on April 22, 2013 in Hollywood, California. Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images

Finding the World in New York New York has always meant the...

notesonacity — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:01:15 -0400

Finding the World in New York

New York has always meant the world to me. I’m often asked why I chose to name my company Donna Karan New York and I always say the same thing: My name really didn’t mean anything, but New York… New York means everything.

Well, this past week was a perfect snapshot into the world that is New York City. My days were packed with conferences, events and galas… all of which spoke to the diverse facets of my own passions and the global community that makes up this city that continues to motivate me everyday.

From connecting with my friends and inspirations at the Clinton Foundation, to supporting a cause very close to my heart at the Annual Pink Ribbon Gala, to celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival with an event at Urban Zen to supporting key members of my Haiti crew - Bryn Mooser and David Darg – and the premier of their film, “The Rider and the Storm.”

A definite highlight of my week was spending my Saturday afternoon with Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, who stopped by Urban Zen to see the gorgeous collection of uniquely designed papier mâché hearts (part of the Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts exhibition that is now available on eBay!). We also took some time to stroll through the Connecting the Dots exhibition and catch up on all things Haiti over lunch at Locanda Verde.

Such an inspiring week! And, now, all of my energies are focused on Barbra who just arrived in New York this weekend. Much to celebrate… stay tuned!

All my love,

HILARY RHODA Model Hilary Rhoda wore Donna Karan Atelier to the...

notesonacity — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:41:14 -0400

HILARY RHODA

Model Hilary Rhoda wore Donna Karan Atelier to the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Ball at Rockefeller Center in New York City on April 18, 2013. (Getty Images)

Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts Creating a community of...

notesonacity — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:01:00 -0400

Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts

Creating a community of conscious consumerism is at the heart of everything I do, I believe it offers necessary solutions and I have witnessed the impact of this first hand in Haiti. I will be forever grateful to President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation for introducing me to this vibrant country and offering such important leadership in this space.

I am excited to share that Urban Zen, together with the CFDA and eBay, launched Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts – an artistic celebration of the limitless potential of creativity and an expression of my ongoing love for Haiti.

For me, Haiti embodies all that Urban Zen represents and these beautifully designed hearts symbolize the power of bringing community together to raise awareness and inspire change.

You know, since my first visit to Haiti with the Clinton Foundation, I’ve been inspired by the Haitian artisans and how they are able to capture their culture and country in art form. I’ve been working with the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative to show the world these beautiful pieces, and in doing so, we’ve been able to help these artisans rebuild their own country by providing them with access to international markets and retailers. As an active member of the Clinton Global Initiatives Haiti Action Network, I was thrilled to work with both artisans from Haiti and Swarovski to create the design for the 2012 Clinton Global Citizen Award, awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding impact in philanthropy, public service, civil society, and the corporate sector.

In my continued travels to Haiti, I have discovered that the solution for rebuilding the country could be found in the inherent creativity of the people. I believe that Haiti represents a model for the developing world, one in which artistry is a key part of the solution.

Seeing the CFDA designers come together to show their support for Haitian artisans is a dream come true for me. The soul that went into these hearts is astonishing; I was blown away by their unique designs. I invite you to visit the Urban Zen Center in New York City to see them for yourself. The hearts will be on exhibition until April 22^nd, after which point they will be sold at auction on eBay from April 22 – May 2 with 100% of proceeds benefitting Urban Zen’s Artisan program.

My hope is that these hearts will continue to carry on the message that with a little bit of creativity so much soul can be expressed and new solutions can be discovered.

All my love,

Women in the World Summit: There is a Powerful Current...

notesonacity — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:46:58 -0400

Women in the World Summit: There is a Powerful Current Stirring

Attending the fourth annual Women in the World Summit at Lincoln Center – just a few blocks from my home – was the perfect way to settle back into New York City after several weeks of travel.

This year’s summit built on the momentum created over the last three years and spoke to the incredible community of women as a global collective. It was inspiring to see world leaders – from exceptional executives, to profoundly effective humanitarians, to political and celebrity heavy hitters, to new women of impact – all come together to offer stories and insights from a very personal and solution oriented place.

I, of course, loved seeing women that I have long admired participate in the summit. Hillary Clinton’s speech exemplified the power of women – she stated so perfectly that, “Helping women isn’t just a nice thing to do.” I loved seeing her look so radiant, refreshed and full of life. Hillary captured the feeling of the summit when she said, “There is a powerful current stirring…we need to seize this moment.” I couldn’t agree more… there is something amazing happening amongst women and this moment is ripe.

You know, I’m constantly struck by the strength of the Clinton legacy and I especially felt this seeing Chelsea take the stage after her mother to lead a paneled discussion on future innovators, influencers and entrepreneurs.

I also love, love, loved seeing my dear friend Danielle Saint-Lot - Haiti’s Ambassador-at-Large - on the “How to Build a Woman Leader Panel,” a subject she has an enormous amount of personal experience in.

As the discussions and stories continued on throughout the summit, I was reminded how important women’s bodies are to our sense of self, power and expression. Many panels focused on the unthinkable abuse women have endured and the “battlefields” our bodies often represent. On the Outcry in India panel, journalist Shoma Chaudhury eloquently spoke to this point saying, “Women’s bodies are the battlefield on which destructive ideologies are contested.” However, there were just as many discussions surrounding the freedom we have to show the beauty of our bodies. I was particularly blown away when 18-year-old Michaela DePrince, a child survivor of war-torn Sierra Leone and orphanage abuse, danced on stage saying, “When I dance, I let people see who I really am.” As a designer and woman who has long appreciated the art of a woman’s body, I really connected with this line of conversation.

Overall, what really resonated with me was the abundant potential represented within this community of women. Empowering people to become self-sufficient, to stand tall, seek solutions and to live brave lives of impact. There were many dark topics covered, but the feeling I walked away with was one of light. In the end, it’s all about women raising women to another dimension.

All my love,

LA, DUBAI, & INDIA At the moment, I’m staying at a...

notesonacity — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:01:00 -0500

LA, DUBAI, & INDIA

At the moment, I’m staying at a beautiful ashram in India and the evening air smells like tuberose. It’s the perfect setting to reflect and tell you a little bit about my recent travels to LA and Dubai.

I had a whirlwind trip to LA for the Oscars. It was a welcomed change of pace after the frenzy of New York Fashion Week and I loved having the opportunity to not only dress Barbra for her stunning Oscar performance, but also to connect with friends like Hugh and Deb Jackman. After a few days in sunny California, I boarded my 17 hour flight to Dubai where I had a truly inspiring experience taking in culture and connecting with amazing women.

I decided to go to Dubai to join a group of inspiring women for a luncheon appropriately called “Empowering Women: Dynamic Forces of Change,” a paneled discussion moderated by Kathleen Matthews, Corporate Officer and EVP and Global Communications and Public Affairs, Marriott International, Inc. I joined Vital Voices President & CEO Alyse Nelson; Dubai Business Women Council President Raja Easa Al Gurg; Conde Nast Traveler Vice President & Publisher Carolyn Kremins; and JW Marriott Vice President & Global Brand Manager Mitzi Gaskins for this vibrant conversation.

We arrived a few days before the luncheon so we took some time to explore the new JW Marriott – I was immediately impressed with the calming energy. I found the hotel architecture to be absolutely breathtaking; it blew my mind! It’s the tallest building in the world and we had the great fortune to tour the hotel with Kathleen. I originally met Kathleen in Haiti through President Clinton and had an immediate connection with her; Kathleen and the Marriott share my view of how important it is to incorporate the local culture into business. Their philosophies are very much aligned with my mission at Urban Zen; I especially felt this when I stopped by their new spa Saray (where I had an authentic Haman experience with a Moroccan therapist - to die for!).

After the tour, I met with my dear friend Khalid who had produced a fashion show for me the last time I was in the country; Khalid connects the dots between fashion, education, culture and business, a true kindred spirit.

Later, we took a trip over to the Dubai Mall with my team from Donna Karan where I visited both my Donna Karan and DKNY stores… it’s always a little surreal to experience my stores in such diverse locations. Before attending an intimate dinner with a fabulous group of women for opening night of the new JW Marriott Dubai, I toured a brilliant new school called Repton. The British curriculum used at this amazing school placed such an emphasis on art - which covered every inch of the school; I wanted to be a student there!

The next day, it was time for the Empowering Women: Dynamic forces of Change panel. I have to say; I was really struck when I looked around the room at the beautiful faces of 200 women from around the world. Throughout the conversation, I realized how truly connected we all are – how our common experiences bond us across cultures and perceived differences. We all face the same challenges no matter where we live. It reaffirmed for me how important it is to ground your self and be in the now as we navigate through an ever-evolving world. I spoke about the importance of creating community, as it’s not about the” me” it’s about the “we”, the connection of the dots.

As the luncheon came to a close I had an opportunity to take the ladies through a guided meditation, connecting woman-to-woman while I shared my personal struggle to find the calm in the chaos and how my journey with Urban Zen has given me the missing link that connects us all.

You know, as I write this I am cognizant of the fact that it’s women’s history month and international women’s day is fast approaching. For me, that’s what these last few weeks have been about. My friendships with the women in my life are invaluable and I was reminded of this after spending time with Barbra in LA. Then, to connect with such amazing women in Dubai and to be a part of a necessary and timely conversation on women’s empowerment was truly extraordinary. Now, I’m in India working on my own self-care, another element of women’s empowerment that is so crucial (and often overlooked in many women’s lives). I’m taking some time to reconnect my mind, body and spirit. I hope you can take a moment and do the same.

Be in touch soon with more stories from India…

Barbra Streisand Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur

All my love,

BARBRA STREISAND Barbra Streisand wore a custom made Donna Karan...

notesonacity — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:41:53 -0500

BARBRA STREISAND

Barbra Streisand wore a custom made Donna Karan gown while performing at the 85th Annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA. Credit: Craig Sjodin ABC/ via Getty Images.

KIM KARDASHIAN Kim Kardashian wore Donna Karan Resort 2013 Look...

notesonacity — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:37:08 -0500

KIM KARDASHIAN

Kim Kardashian wore Donna Karan Resort 2013 Look 40 to the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Oscar Viewing Party on February 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

GABBY DOUGLAS Gabby Douglas wore Donna Karan Resort 2013 to the...

notesonacity — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:00 -0500

GABBY DOUGLAS

Gabby Douglas wore Donna Karan Resort 2013 to the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar party at Sunset Tower on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

STANA KATIC Actress Stana Katic wore Donna Karan Resort 2013...

notesonacity — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:27:22 -0500

STANA KATIC

Actress Stana Katic wore Donna Karan Resort 2013 Look 29 to the 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 23, 2013 in Santa Monica, California. Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

KELLY ROWLAND Singer Kelly Rowland wearing Donna Karan Atelier...

notesonacity — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:42:00 -0500

KELLY ROWLAND

Singer Kelly Rowland wearing Donna Karan Atelier at the 85th Annual Academy Awards, February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage