Dallas knows how to welcome a legend.
A beaming crowd sipped mimosas and nibbled luxurious small bites while awaiting iconic American fashion designer Donna Karan Tuesday morning at Neiman Marcus at NorthPark Center. Rounds of applause then rippled through the room as the guest of honor made her entrance.
Casual and chic in a soft, flowing black top, black pants and a killer pair of leather gladiator-style sandals, Karan was smiling, comfortable and completely at ease.
The designer spent the first few moments of her visit with the crowd, meeting, greeting and posing for photo ops. She seemed to see many familiar faces among the guests from previous visits to Big D. No surprise, considering we were one of the first markets for Donna Karan New York back in the very beginning.
Her first collection debuted in 1985, and Karan’s empire now encompasses everything from bedding to eyewear to fragrance and includes over 100 free-standing stores. Then and now, however, the designer’s primary focus is on multi-functional pieces made to compliment a real woman’s curves.
After mingling, the crowd retired to their seats for a stunning showing of Karan’s Fall 2009 Collection.
“Your shoulder never gains weight,” declared Karan, with characteristic humor, of the idea behind one of the designs.
In fact, several of the looks featured bare or cut-out shoulders, and draped jersey was a major player as well. In neutral shades such as concrete gray and chocolate brown, the collection was accented with luxurious touches of fur, leather and crushed velvet.
And in keeping with her classic philosophy, Karen explained, “All the pieces are completely interchangeable.”
The show concluded with a question-and-answer session, in which members of the audience were encouraged to participate.
Knowing laughter spread throughout the room when one front-row fan exclaimed, “Thank you for the body suit!”
The designer then revealed that the classic piece (one of her trademark designs) is the first thing she puts on every morning.
Wrapping up with a heartfelt explanation of her latest philanthropic project, Urban Zen, Karan encouraged everyone to take care and enjoy life to the fullest.