Donna Karan Looks to the Art of the Street for Newest Spring Collection

Always a highlight for me is to be lucky enough to attend the Donna Karan NY Show….everyone that has ever followed me knows I’m a die-hard fan. There is just an excitement and an energy in the air at the show, always. You get the feeling that everyone is there and the people watching is only out-done by the runway watching and this year did not disappoint.

The Spring/Summer 2015 Collection

This year’s “Art of the Street” collection draws from all of Donna’s philanthropic work with Haiti, India, Bali and Africa….all carried to the streets of New York where she has, to use her own words, “painted the town with Urban Chic” as she pairs these cultures and their art…as always very focused on NY, her town, and the creativity it inspires in her.

The palette of Black, White/Ivory, Red, Tan, Brick and Indigo work so well in all of the prints inspired by street art of scribbles, strokes and splashes. They are also paired with great solid pieces, such as in the matte jersey or poplin that are just so much about the body-wrapping techniques that Donna, the master of fitting to the woman’s body, does so well.

This collections was vibrant, uncomplicated and desirable showing many fresh new silhouettes. The woman who introduced bodysuits as a wardrobe staple (I still have many of my original DK bodysuits in my drawers!), has proclaimed their newest replacement to be the Bra Top, which showed many times and many ways….particularly strong was the close to the body top with a full skirt, short or long or as a tease under a great jack or dress.    The belted shirtdress looked fresh and new, the wiggle skirt was great when paired with a relaxed rolled-sleeve poplin camp shirt.

Accessories completed the looks starting with the show-stopping Pharrell-esque Stephen Jones hats on many of the models, including Karlie Kloss who closed the show in her tallest topper. One-of-a-Kind hand-painted totes, leather bangles, all added to the art of street style on these models.

Highlights of the Collection…edit was hard

In the show’s line notes, Donna declares the Bra Top, the new bodysuit, which means a lot from the lady who got us all wearing them (bodysuits) in the first place.

Kendall Jenner on left modeling the top that I only saw at Donna….lots of off-the-shoulder, but this was a hint of shoulder; I always associate DK with the cold shoulder, of course and she was one of the most important designers that made the shoulder sexy!

Black is always a color idea that Donna gets and includes….very updated here shown in bra top and cropped pants and that sexy slit.

Always love the pops of red in body-conscious shirt dresses nipped at the waists, works in bold solid or urban prints

Brick Red relaxed styles…the wiggle skirt or the fuller shirt dress all flatter the body 

Loved this simple jersey, ever-so-Donna dress that just molds to the body and the combination with black in the printed skirt on the right makes an everybody print that all can wear comfortably

Neutrals, always strong for Spring, appealing done tonally as the left or in the cinched waist very relaxed , comfortable shirtdress.

Evening was about swoosh skirts and body-fitting easy long gowns…also there were bra tops and ball gown skirts (a look I found dominant on the runways) also prints was an option

The Designer Celebrates the ending of her show. Happily loving what she has created. In her own words at end of her line notes…”New York is my palette, my passion, my fuel–a culture that empowers creativity.”

 photos courtesy of Style.com