At her show yesterday, Diane Von Furstenberg touched on the sense of freshness and a new start in the wake of the 9/11 anniversary and the same feeling was evident in the DKNY show. Nobody quite champions New York, quite like Donna Karan. After all, it's all in the name so that spirit of optimism and patriotism (sorry for all the isms) really came through in her S/S12 collection.
Red and blue featured heavily throughout on everything from big floral prints which covered summer dresses and matching accessories as well as on striped tops and drawstring shorts and asymmetric hemmed floaty dresses. As always Karan managed to balance style and comfort by presenting practical pieces like oversized sporty anoraks alongside simple breezy dresses in short and long styles that will have you covered no matter what the occasion.
Since being scouted aged 13 at a charity fashion show in her hometown St. Louis, life hasn't stopped for Karlie Kloss. Now 18, she has fronted campaigns for brands like Donna Karan, Dior, and Marc Jacobs and her list of runway appearances reads like a who's who in the fashion industry. Now, Kloss is using that experience to helpMother Model Management find for the next big model in America.
Kloss will work with the agencies founders Jeff and Mary Clarke - who were the people who scouted her - to look for promising new talent and will help host a charity fashion show at the end when the winner is announced. "Mary and Jeff are like family to me now, and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I am today so I jumped at the chance to support them in their search to make another 'wannabe' models' dream come true," she explained. "This is a fantastic way for me to support the community and the charity that launched my career, I couldn't be more excited!" says Karlie of the competition.
The 2011 Met Ball has finally arrived and the stars have come out with a venegance and on the red carpet Kanye West most notably appearing sporting the first glimpse of Tory Burch's first foray into the world of menswear.
This weekend saw Mary J Blige, Queen Latifah and Elle's Robbie Myers host the second annual Mary J. Blige honors concert held at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.
If you ask Donna Karan, John Galliano's anti-Semitic comments were overblown. She said on Wedneday: "I know John. I’ve met John. He’s a wonderful designer, a brilliant designer, and he probably needs help and support right now. To be a designer’s a very taskful situation, and sometimes it can push a few limits." Karan, who is Jewish, further explained: "I also come from a spiritual level where I care for everybody. I don’t believe you win anything by fighting. The only way we can retrieve peace is by love and compassion."
Donna Karan brings out the romantic in me so the fact that she showed her collection on Valentine's Day was fitting. Last season I was transfixed by her gold goddess gowns so I must admit, I was concerned about whether she'd be able to match last season's benchmark with her fall collection.
She didn't disappoint. Despite showing a collection in romantic subtle shades like peach, nudes, camels and taupes, the Donna Karan woman this season is far from a shrinking violet. Draped dresses and 50s style dresses nipped in at the waist were feminine but powerful. After in the show notes, Karan said that she aimed to create pieces that would make women command the room.
There was Grace Kelly feeling in the air. Pearls appeared in abundance with pencil skirts and sheer blouses, dresses were fitted showing of a feminine silhouette, gloves appeared and all came over the elbow and shawls were delicately wrapped over models heads.
I've always preferred Donna Karan's mainline over DKNY despite the fact that my age would indicate that I should prefer the latter. The florals the designer showed last season didn't resonate but this season she got the mix of youth and aesthetic perfectly.
Like many designers this season, Karan played with colour by clashing bright hues. A pink and red striped mohair knit came styled over a nude blouse; a toffee oversized cardigan appeared on top of a bright red mini dress and an oversized burnt copper single breasted jacket was teamed over a nude blouse under a pink, white and red dress. I know what you're thinking - colour overload - but take our word, it really did work.
That said, the black piece worked just as well for those of you that aren't fans of bright colours. Karan offered up some sleek tuxedo jackets and black skinny jeans teamed with a black biker jacket and beautiful white coat with black panels down the side. Black also appeared on sheer dresses teamed with steel toe black wedges.
