NYC January 14, 2012
Last night at 92nd STREET Y the public and media was treated to an indepth and more importantly, insiteful interview. FERN MALLIS renouned for establishing Fashion Week in 1993 set down for what was to be an hour long interview with the lengendary DONNA KARAN. It was a wonderfully informal and revealing conversation that lasted far beyond the schduled time. Nearly two hours. But during that time we learned even more details of Donna Karans’ influences and rise to international success. Here are few hot points:
- Donna Karan Born in Forest Hills Queens
- DK tries to “find balance in everything”
- Both parents were in fashion: ”mother was a model; father made custom-made suits for gangsters”
- DK ” I was a hippie, I still am”
- DK ”I wanted to be an illustrator, not a designer”
- DK went to Parsons for 2 years
- Anne Klein (AK) hired her for summer job. Talked her in to staying after summer. AK: “why go back to school when you can learn more here!”
- DK and AK had two different body styles - DK had bigger butt, no belly; AK had slim butt, but a belly.
- DK worked at AK for 9 mo., then AK fired her.
- AK dies from cancer. DK goes back to work quickly at AK, right after giving birth to 10 lb girl.
- Donna Karans’ company started in her apartment. She wanted to make “clothes for her and her friends”. Only 72 pieces, including body suits, pants, wrap-around skirts, scarfs, sweaters.
- The day of the first DK fashion show was the day her mother died.
- Meeting Barbara Striesand was very exciting. “I always wanted to sing like BS and dance like Martha Graham”
- Barbra Streisand story: DK owned chenille sweaters. One night she was smoking at a club and an ash caught her sweater on fire. Shortly thereafter BS was going through DK’s wardrobe and wanted a number of DK’s chenille sweaters. DK said she couldn’t have them (she could see the headlines “BS injured when DK sweater catches fire!”), so BS said “give me the fabric and I’ll have them made!”. BS is a designer. She designed her wedding dress, but wound up wearing DK’s own wedding dress!”
- Bill Clinton is DK’s “inspiration”
- DK wants legacy to be: “I want to dress the inside as well as the outside”
- DK has been very active in the campaigns for the redevelopment of Haiti. She just returned that day (Thursday) from the two year anniversary ceremony (attended by Bill Clinton). Bill Clinton asked DK to increase the level of design in Haiti. She has incorporated a number of local and Balinese artists in her designs.
Steve Brunken NY Correspondent
Photo: Joyce Culver for 92nd Street Y
