Donna Karan’s sportswear line has forever romanticized New York– it’s in the name, after all–and yesterday’s collection was what DKNY has always been: relevant and smart, never fussy. Those red and blue looks, in eye popping stripes and Marimekko-esque florals, seemed perfectly primed for the city gal who wants to put together a striking look when she really needs to be running to the subway, like, now. That almost aggressive color combo (a favorite last season at Thakoon, Rag & Bone, etc) takes care of most the work.
The same was true of the hot pink options: tweed tops, a silk blazer Elle Woods would’ve killed for, and a couple “mullet” style dresses that make us wonder if Anja Rubik’s wedding gown silhouette will garner mass market appeal (girls with good legs, cross your fingers). For the office-dwelling urbanite, Karan still offered plenty of black and white blazers and blouses. Though perfectly lovely, they seemed to fade against the rest of the lively, spirited clothes. This was a patriotic, statement-making collection, and ultimately, how much of that statement was intended to be 9/11 referential– and how much was just classic DKNY–doesn’t matter at all.
**All images: Imaxtree
