Donna Karan : InStyle.com What's Right Now

Donna Karan’s Most Shocking Design School Moment

May 3, 2012 @ 3:05 pm

Donna Karan is famous for her body-conscious draping (case in point: her fall 2012 collection, seen here), so when we caught up with the designer at a benefit for her alma mater, Parsons The New School of Design, we were shocked to learn that she wasn’t always such a fabric pro. “I failed draping,” Karan told us. “It’s my metaphor: Donna Karan failed draping!” The designer also shared some tips for any aspiring fashion star: “Work in retail. It’s the only way you really get to understand what you’re doing and what your job is.” Good advice!

See our top picks from Karan’s fall collection!

OUR FAVORITE LOOKS

MORE:
• Your Favorite Designers A-Z
• Ashley Greene’s Donna Karan Dress
• Designers’ Ultimate Fashion Advice

— Rose Walano

Top Looks of the Week: Vote for Your Favorite!

Feb 17, 2012 @ 11:40 am

Sipa(2); AP Photo; Getty Images (2)

Our favorite outfits of the week—pulled from our Look of the Day top picks—are sleeveless pieces that show off the arms. Our standouts: Mom-to-be Sienna Miller in Boss Black and Pamela Love jewelry, Emmy Rossum in Donna Karan, Rooney Mara in Calvin Klein, Jessica Alba in Michael Kors, and Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney. Which one is your favorite? Vote in the poll below and let us know! More

— Sharon Clott

Gary Gershoff/WireImage; Kristina Bumphrey/Startraksphoto.com

Fashion Week Front Row: Renee Zellweger, Adriana Lima, and More!

Feb 14, 2012 @ 6:15 pm

There are an endless supply of stars at New York Fashion Week this season—with Adriana Lima at Donna Karan and Renee Zellweger at Carolina Herrera, to name a few. See all who else scored a row seat and backstage pass in the gallery!

NYFW FRONT ROW

MORE FASHION WEEK:
• Celebrity TwitPics: Fashion Week
• Fashion Week Cheat Sheets!
• Designers’ Ultimate Fashion Advice

— Rose Walano

Imaxtree

Runway Looks We Love: Donna Karan

Feb 14, 2012 @ 4:00 pm

Donna Karan emphasized one of her favorite themes for fall 2012—strong women! The collection, which the designer described as a mix of masculine and feminine, featured tuxedos and pinstripe suits with a decidedly sexy spin. Mini Stephen Jones fedoras topped off the looks, which came in a color palette of charcoal, scarlet, navy, and black. Ashley Greene, Emmy Rossum, Rose McGowan, and Adriana Lima watched from the front row as Karan sent out sequin-covered gowns and long jersey dresses to the tune of “I’m Every Woman” for the show’s finale. Powerful! See our favorite looks in the gallery now.

MORE: The Hottest Fashion Week News!

— Violet Gaynor

See the Photos

Jen Lowery / Splash News; Courtesy of Donna Karan

Ashley Greene’s Donna Karan Dress: See the Sketch!

Nov 16, 2011 @ 10:40 am

Ashley Greene’s new gig as the face of DKNY comes with its perks, like when designer Donna Karan offered to custom design the strapless red gown she wore to the premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 this week. “They threw out around 15 sketches and I saw this one and I gasped,’” Greene told InStyle.com. (We tracked down the sketch, shown.) “It’s so beautiful and perfect. It’s elaborate without being overbearing. I really feel like a movie star tonight.” And while Karan was the creative force behind the look, Greene chimed in with her own tweaks, too. “They asked if we wanted to do black underneath it or nude for the bodice,” Greene explained. “And I said, ‘I think black would take away from the red and make it too vampiric, honestly,’” she laughed. “So we went with the nude!” See more looks from the premiere in the gallery.

Twilight Photos!

MORE:
• Bella’s Bridal Details
• First Look: Twilight Hairstyling Tools!
• Meet the New Cast of Twilight
• Twilight Greeting Cards
• Ashley Greene to Model for DKNY

— Sharon Clott, reporting by Scott Huver

Getty Images

Beyoncé’s Baby Bump: Designers Discuss Maternity Tips!

Oct 21, 2011 @ 5:30 pm

Beyoncé’s baby bump is growing quickly—the singer is due in February—and we caught up with designers during New York Fashion Week to find out their top tips for how they’d dress the superstar (and maternity styling in general). Read suggestions from Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, Alexander Wang and more in the gallery!

Then, tell us: What are your thoughts on maternity clothes? Love ‘em or leave ‘em?

MORE:
• Celeb Mom Style
• Hollywood’s Newest Moms
• Best Dressed Pregnant Celebrities
• The Latest Baby News

— Sharon Clott

See the Photos

Imaxtree

Runway Looks We Love: Donna Karan

Sep 13, 2011 @ 4:30 pm

Donna Karan’s latest offerings were inspired by her trip to Haiti. “After a year traveling in Haiti, my two worlds come together: translating the vibrancy of tribal elements into sophisticated, sexy urban clothes,” the designer said of her Spring 2012 collection. The result? Strong silhouettes punched up with pops of tangerine, earthy statement necklaces and bold brushstroke prints dreamed up by Haitian artist Philippe Dodard. Shoulders also took center stage, because, as Karan told us, “You never gain weight on your shoulders. Enjoy your body!” Click through the gallery to see our favorite looks!

MORE: Fashion Week’s Hottest Moments!

— Violet Gaynor, reporting by Nakisha Williams

See the Photos

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Yoga Honor and More!

Jun 16, 2011 @ 3:00 pm

Gwyneth Paltrow (in Alexander Wang) met up with Donna Karan at the annual Bent on Learning Benefit last night in New York, held at the designer’s Urban Zen Center. The actress received an honor for her contributions to the yoga community, as Bent On Learning is a nonprofit organization dedicated to mobilizing the yoga community for social good. Part of her gift included a custom gold charm of the Ganesh, a Hindu deity who is known as the remover of obstacles, donated by the jewelry company Slane. Click through to see more photos from last night’s hottest parties!

— Leah Abrahams

See the Photos