Donna Karan　had a spectacular debut in mid 80's. Since then, she has been the

“Dream Brand” for working women. Her motto, “for a woman by a woman”

explains who she is and how close she is to the women

she dresses.

Her Spring/Summer 2011 collection was at the Stephan Weiss Studio,

the space used by her late husband, a sculptor, who died of cancer several

years ago. You can read more about the beginning of her business and

her husband, in my book, “Manager, Taki Tomio: The Man Who Created

Donna Karan”.

I wrote this book because I love the style of Donna Karan who understands

a woman’s body and emotions, and I sympathized with her life as a woman.

Next to the Studio is the shop of Urban Zen. The free, easy clothes,

accessories and work of African artists, reflect the spirit of Donna Karan

as a designer.

I think the Stephan Weiss Studio, Urban Zen and the programs and events

held there on Greenwich Street, are very important and close to Donna

Karan’s heart.

Now let’s take a look at the clothes:

In the DKNY collection, there were unique styles – a dress, scarf and top

– made from a scarf, the DKNY Heritage Scarf. Vivid, youthful DKNY,

is indispensable for urban working women as everyday wear.

When I wear a DKNY dress, I feel that my work and private life will

be enriched.

Youthful DKNY dresses on Emi Sugiyama, Director of Public Relations,

left, lovely Marie, center, and IA, right.

The Donna Karan New York collection is based on pale tints of vanilla,

beige, wild honey. Her almost-crushed and gathered silk satin jacket or

transparent mousseline de soie evening gown with overlapping bias-cut

strips that moves like an exotic bird’s plumage, are glamorous and luxurious.

I may feel that I am a good woman if I could wear her dress nicely.

This collection’s theme is “Raw Romantic”. Although “raw” is seldom

used to describe fashion, Donna Karan uses it here to convey a woman’s

natural instinct for feather-weight fabrics that move and envelope the

body with every step.

Her collection convinced me that her message this season was, “each dress

has been an emotional object of desire and has been created to express

the freedom of each individual moment”.

Vol.76 2011 Spring/Summer Collection 4