Donna's Journal

FOREVER CASHMERE, Resort 2013

“If you think cashmere is only about cuddling up, think again. Our resort Cashmere Collection is ready to party in the most sophisticated, urban style. Shoulder-revealing dresses, sensuous tube skirts, sexy shrugs and glittery wraps – all the day-into-night pieces you need, whether your holiday party is in a sky-high office setting or held in your own home. Because it’s cashmere, every piece feels divine against skin. Yet these pieces are just as sexy to look at, whether it’s a black cold-shoulder dress or a quartz envelope-drape tunic to wear over leggings. I love, love, love the freshness of the winter white pieces, the true sportswear items, like the zip-front vest and lounge pants, and of course, the throw-over-everything cardigans and cozies – you can never have enough. These are forever pieces – indulgent, individual, irresistible. Each is a cashmere object of desire, and there’s no better gift in the world – starting with the ones you buy for yourself.”

DRESSING BARBRA

Barbra Streisand and I are more than friends, we’re soul sisters. I could go on with stories about us playing, vacationing, spiritual retreating, etc, but I wanted to share our most recent collaboration for Barbra’s Back to Brooklyn concert at the new Barclays Center. I’ve dressed Barbra for as long as I can remember. (We first met when I was at Anne Klein. Barbara was my idol, and she came in and fell in love with these sample sweaters I knew to be highly flammable. She wanted them anyway and even offered to sign a waiver.) Anyway, because this Brooklyn concert was so special and personal to Barbra, it was important the clothes have that “wow factor.” We collaborated for weeks and weeks – since the summer, actually. And we both loved the results. First, the black sequins. Nothing catches the lights better than sequins. The menswear-inspired jacket she wore came straight from our fall line. The white shirt framed her face and the matching vest underscored the haberdashery feeling. We had the option of pants and a skirt (personally, I loved the sexy, burnout skirt.) I just love Barbra in tailored pieces and this was a knockout on her. The piece de resistance, however, was the coral dress. Talk about wow! The color and detailing was inspired by Barbra’s vintage Art Deco bracelet (which she wore with the dress.) Then came the cape – I mean, can you ask for anything more dramatic than a sweeping coral cape? The effect was breathtaking. Beyond. She lit up that dark stage like the star she is. After all the chaos, stress and hard work that went into these clothes, we were both thrilled. The looks were so amazing, so perfect and so truly Barbra.

STEPHAN WEISS:

Connecting the Dots, Portrait of a Man

“I am proud to announce the publication of Stephan Weiss: Connecting the Dots, Portrait of a Man” (Assouline) It is the story of my husband Stephan Weiss, as told through photos of his art, his family and his business. Stephan, my pony-tailed husband, was my world. He was my love, my rock, my inspiration, my strength, my creative business partner – my everything. He was an incredible artist, who “connected the dots” in his art, life and business, always seeking to make creative harmony out of creative chaos. If it wasn’t for Stephan, there would be no Donna Karan International. Stephan was the wind beneath my wings. Yet I’ve always wanted to tell his remarkable story, as an artist, businessman and as the inspiration behind my foundation Urban Zen – it was his illness that led our call to change the healthcare system. Stephan brought creative passion to all he did, whether it was his tactile art, successful business negotiations, motorcycle riding and of course our family. “Connecting the Dots” was born of Stephan’s art, which he called Energy Field Art. Based on the string theory of modern physics, Stephan put random dots on a page and then quickly connected them with artful strokes. A shape and energy would emerge, which he then turned into a painting or a sculpture. I didn’t understand the importance of connecting the dots at the time, but now I’m obsessed with it. Our lives are all about connecting the dots - you can’t dress a woman without addressing her life, and what matters most to her. My philanthropic work is rooted in addressing the connection between past, present and future; culture, health and education. Stephan made me see beauty is in the connection. I can’t think of a better metaphor for how Stephan lived his life. I loved every minute of creating this book, especially going through all of our family albums. The book is divided by Stephan’s defining passions: Artist, Entrepreneur, Adventurer, Family Man and Legacy. This book is my way of introducing you to Stephan – to share his amazing art, his times, his passions. Behind every great woman is a greater man - and Stephan was mine.

Purchase a copy of Stephen Weiss: Connecting the Dots on Assouline.com

MOVING PICTURES

Moments, a new book by photographer Denis Piel

The best photographers understand that a photo is a moment, but in that moment, you glimpse into an entire world.

Denis Piel, a photographer and artist I admire greatly, knows that better than anyone. Denis does more than take a photo – he tells you a story. His new book Denis Piel, Moments, Rizzoli New York, 2012, shares the many stories he’s told over a long career. Designed by Ruth Ansel, each image feels a like mini film because Denis’ approach is highly cinematic. I have a personal connection, as Denis was the photographer who took the very first ad images of Donna Karan New York, and he set the template for all that has followed. Denis appreciated the strength of our brand wasn’t about the clothes, it was about the woman. Who was she? How did she live? What did she care about? Denis knew I was designing for myself (and a few good friends) and quickly set out to tell a story – my story, but idealized, of course. We hired Rosemarie McGrotha and put her in motion, as if we were following her busy day. This was a sophisticated urban woman, pulled in a million directions, who cared about her family, her man and trying to find time for herself. The campaign embraced the chaos of her life with texture and emotion. Taken over 25 years ago, the images remain completely relevant today. The Donna Karan story is but one in this beautiful book. Denis has worked with some of the most captivating women of our time, presenting them in a way that shows he was way of ahead his own time. I promise, this is a book you’ll want to give as a gift – and get an extra to enjoy for yourself.

photo credits:

image 2 and 4 - Denis Piel

all others - Conde Nast & Denis Piel

Donna Karan: A Global Citizen

President Clinton and CGI Honor Donna with its Global Citizen Award

Monday, September 24^th was extraordinary! President Clinton inspires everything I do, from my work in Haiti to Urban Zen. I was thrilled to design the Global Citizen Award, but I was completely shocked when President Clinton presented me with the award at the end of the evening. I am humbled and honored beyond words. I met President Clinton through my friend Barbara Streisand many years ago. I had long admired the President and then had the honor of dressing him while he was in office. Years later, when I went to his first Clinton Global Initiative, I was inspired to create Urban Zen in a similar manner – that is to provide a platform where like-minded people could gather and problem-solve on a global level. Then the earthquake in Haiti occurred, and my connection with the President grew even deeper, as Urban Zen joined forces with CGI to help support and develop business possibilities in Haiti. Here was a place that presented the perfect opportunity to use philanthropy and commerce to create change. I was asked to create CGI’s e Global Citizen Award, and worked with Karine Villar “Cookie,” a Haitian artist, and key member of the Urban Zen Haiti Artisan Project, along with Nadia Swarovski of Swarovski Crystals.

For me, the handcrafted design of the CGI logo represents a beautiful expression of bringing two worlds together, which is what CGI is all about. Last night, President Clinton named our design the official award of CGI – an enormous honor, since the design has been given to a different designer to create every other year. I knew about that, but then came the real surprise: President Clinton brought me back up on the stage to honor me for my work in Haiti. Said the President “We’re intending for this award to be around as long as we’re giving out awards. So, I think we should give an award to Donna Karan. I believe that it is overwhelmingly because of her that the arts and crafts center of the Haitian economy may be the first sector that is actually doing better today than it was before the earthquake and I will never be able to thank her enough.” I am truly humbled and honored to be recognized in this way by a man I admire so much and his iconic organization that is doing so much to make our world a better place.

photo credits in order of appearance: Adam Schultz, Taylor Davidson, Todd France, Taylor Davidson

UNDER COVER SEDUCTION

Donna Karan Shapewear from Donna Karan Intimates

I’ve always believed in dressing from the inside out. Because if you build a sexy and secure foundation, you’ll feel sexy and secure in your skin – and also in your clothes. You’ll stand a little straighter, walk a little taller. Sensual confidence has power. That’s the secret behind Incognita, our newest Intimates collection. It’s seductive lingerie that functions – accentuating the positive, deleting the negative. Smoothing, supporting, sculpting. Putting your curves where you want them in the most flattering and comfortable way possible. It’s done through the art of seamless molding, micro lining, under-wiring and other patent-pending secrets that conceal and reveal you to perfection. Intricately engineered, each piece offers 360 degrees of smoothing and support, so you can wear the most body-conscious clothes you own and no one will know you have a little help underneath - - whether it’s eliminating bra bulges, defining the waist, holding in the tummy or slimming thighs. Yet it’s Incognita’s styling you (and he) will notice first. And this is where looks can be deceiving…every detail is pure woman. Evocative, alluring and a bit mysterious. Stretch lace. Embroidered touches. Sheer and satin panels. Shapes are sensual – balcony bras, camisoles, thongs, hipsters. This is lingerie you’ll like to be seen in privately – or peeking out of a blouse. Think modern film noir. Whether or not any one sees it but you is beside the point. You’ll know it’s there. And as a woman, that makes all the difference in the world.

Introducing The Evolution Hosiery Collection

A DAY SPA FOR LEGS

As a designer, I’m consumed with legs. How to make them look longer, leaner and leggier. That’s why designing hosiery has always been an integral part of my design process. Beyond how legs look, I care about how they feel. Legs are a woman’s very foundation. They take you everywhere you go, and if you’re like me, you spend most of your day on your feet. Evolution, our newest hosiery collection, is the first-ever wellness hosiery. Based on advanced knitting technology, Evolution pampers and invigorates legs with an all-over graduated compression for enhanced support and micro-massaging. So your legs feel energized all day. Most important, Evolution looks as sleek and chic as any of our hosiery. They feel good to the touch and create a smooth, sculpted silhouette under even the most body-conscious clothes. Evolution hosiery is so comfortable, you almost don’t want to take them off, even after a long day. They come in Seasonless Sheer and Seasonless Opaque, in four quintessential shades – Black, Off Black, DK Grey and Chocolate. Putting on a pair of Evolution is like checking your legs into a day spa - something indulgent you do for yourself and only you will know.

The Evolution Collection retails for $28 and is available at major department stores nationwide, Donna Karan stores, and here at DonnaKaran.com.

FASHION WEEK

Fashion Week always hits like a hurricane after Labor Day. Mind you, I’ve been working all summer on our Spring collections – Donna Karan and DKNY don’t happen overnight. But there’s still that sudden, back-to-school feeling in the air. You have everyone in town, all at once – the international press, retailers, bloggers, celebs – and the schedule is jam packed. There’s literally something – actually many things - every hour on the hour. It’s the ultimate fashion reunion – a moveable feast running from uptown to downtown, day into night. Usually, DKNY and Donna Karan are among the last shows of the week, but this year, I’m thrilled to say they are among the first. Why am I thrilled? Because then it will be essentially over and I can enjoy the rest of the week. Or at least try to. Right now, pre-shows, I’m running back and forth between 550 Seventh Avenue (Collection’s home) to 240 W 40th (DKNY’s home.) I’m styling looks, fitting models, previewing with the press, hearing music, writing press releases, deciding on hair and makeup and on and on. Add in Fashion’s Night Out – the truly brilliant, round-the-world, shop-till-you-drop party established four years ago created by Anna Wintour and Vogue, and the pressure is just all that more intense. (Our FNO included Miss Piggy at the DKNY store selling FDNY Heroes Calendar as well as Lauren Bush Lauren and the DKNY X FEED Collection to fight world hunger. And, at our Collection store, we previewed my new book on Stephan, “Connecting the Dots: Portrait of a Man.”) I’m not doing this alone. I have the most amazing teams in the world. I hit the ground running at 7am and fall into bed after midnight. You would think with more than 50 shows behind me, I wouldn’t get stressed at all, but I do. Yet, I’ve learned to stay cool through my yoga, pilates, juices, aromatherapy and getting a massage before I go to bed. After our Collection show, I host a dinner for all my designers and creative talent who worked on the show, and we get to breathe a collective sigh of relief. For a minute, that is. Then we go to work the next morning and start all over again. To be continued….

FASHION’S NIGHT OUT 2012: CONNECTING THE DOTS

For Fashion’s Night Out, I will be at the Donna Karan New York Flagship store on Madison Avenue signing preview copies of STEPHAN WEISS: CONNECTING THE DOTS, PORTRAIT OF A MAN, a full-color book and tribute to my late husband and artist, Stephan Weiss, due out in October.

Stephan’s work, Energy Field Art, is based on the string theory of modern physics and his method was to connect randomly placed dots with quick, artistic strokes. The shape and energy that emerged would then be transformed into a painting or sculpture. His artwork and book’s title stand as a perfect metaphor for his unique ability to bridge and connect with people, worlds and causes, and is the basis for my philanthropic imprint, the Urban Zen Foundation.

Stay tuned for more about Stephan, his work, and where to get the book in an upcoming Love Love Love post in coming weeks. And if you’re in the City, I hope to see you tonight!

BURNING LOVE
Burnished Copper Pieces by Donna Karan Tabletop by Lenox

I love, love, love anything sculptural, unique and made by hand. Especially an artisan piece that has been formed in a relationship between man and nature. These fabulous burnished copper pieces are a great example. The design is literally formed by fire, so each piece is as individual moment captured forever. Handcrafted in India, they are copper-plated iron, which is then burned in a coal oven. The artisan lights each piece on fire to get the beautiful mottled effect. The result is an ageless vessel – whether a vase or a bowl - that is as classic and modern as it is raw and elemental. My husband Stephan was a sculptor who loved to work with metals, often using its natural patina to evoke depth and texture. These pieces have that same tactile quality that begs touching. Perfect for any décor, they make the perfect gift, whether for your own home or for someone else’s. And you’re absolutely guaranteed they won’t own anything like it.