DALLAS, Jan 3, 2005/ FW/ --- During the 2004 CFDA Fashion Awards, Donna Karan received her Lifetime Achievement Award from her peers. As part of the triumvirate that includes Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, who dominated the New York garment district since the 1970s, Donna Karan is one of the most influential women in fashion.

A native of Forest Hills, New York, Donna Karan (nee Donna Faske) studied fashion design at the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan. She was still a student when Anne Klein hired her for a summer job wherein she would become Assistant Designer (1967-1968) and eventually succeed Anne Klein at the helm in 1974 after the death of Anne Klein.

Staying with Anne Klein for almost a decade, Donna Karan left the company shortly after the launch of Anne Klein II and formed Donna Karan New York, launching her first eponymous collection in 1985.

From there, they would expand to a full fashion items line from womenswear, menswear and accessories, to the creation of the DKNY brand that would eventually include jeans.

The company remained independent until 2000. In December of the same year, LVMY announced its intention to buy a controlling share in DKNY and Donna Karan New York. Both companies became officially part of the LVMH stable in 2001.

With the sale of Calvin Klein to PVH and Donna Karan to LVMH, Ralph Lauren is the only one among the triumvirate that is still an independent. With the retirement of Calvin Klein from fashion designing, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren still continue to spearhead the New York fashion scene with their groundbreaking designs and innovations.

And although fashion critics have been lukewarm to Donna Karan’s collections for the past several years, her last two collections, including Spring 2005 that was shown in New York last September received positive reviews with comments like, “Donna Karan is on a revival.”

Keeping a slim silhouette for day dresses, pants and evening ensembles, Donna Karan’s fans will not want to miss this collection when it hit stores this March.

Donna Karan

Donna Karan

Donna Karan