In conjuring an image of old-school Donna Karan, one might picture the uniform of a city slicker: a capsule wardrobe defined by its streamlined black, white, and neutral-toned pieces. Lesser remembered, however, may be the New York designer’s penchant for a sexy, vibrant red. This season, the design team reinvigorated that color, repurposing it in a modern context through a rich dark cherry. It’s coincidentally a dead ringer for Clinique’s beloved tinted lip balm, “black honey,” though the design team dubbed Donna’s version, which serves as a throughline of the collection, “black cherry.”
Many of this season’s looks were monochrome, whether in said black cherry, an espresso brown, camel, or classic black. Multi-functionality is key, and each piece was made with the intention to mix, match, and–most importantly–let the different textures do the talking. Familiar day-to-night staples, like the faux fur gilet, returned from last year’s fall collection, this time paired with a bias-cut dress, though it could easily be worn over any of the cozy knits or the under double-faced wool jacket. Classic gold accents were wholly incorporated, from a triple chain across the front of a cape to a sculpted accent on the straps of a dress.
Comfort, in both silhouette and price point (no piece exceeds $800), are key for the brand. The weekday look could be summed up in a slim-cut stretch velvet suit, and off the clock, Donna Karan Weekend is back—bringing a lightweight and airy offering suited for wherever you choose to escape.