21 Most Memorable Pieces from Donna Karan

Fashion influencer, designer, and guru to all stylish working women, Donna Karan is stepping down after 31 years at the helm of her house is assuming the role of brand ambassador to concentrate on developing her other business, Urban Zen. She took the fashion world by storm with her debut fall 1985 collection ‘Seven Easy Pieces’ which offered streamlined solutions that were functional AND chic for urban professionals. “So many women find assembling the right clothes bewildering today,” Karan told a reporter at the time. “They’ve discovered fast ways to put food on the table, but they do not know how to get their wardrobes together easily.”

Young Donna Karan as she fits a model

And Karan was right. Her notion that with the right basics, a woman could accomplish anything. For eveningwear, her signature “cold shoulder” was a look favored by all from politicians like Hillary Clinton to hollywood stars. And who can forget Karan’s stunning slip columns of devoré velvet, lamé, or draped jersey? Exactly why one will never forget a great talent like Donna Karan. Here we look back on Donna Karan’s 21 most celebrated pieces.