Donna Karen (Donna Faske), was born in New York, in 1948. Her mother was a model and her father a haberdasher. Fashion was therefore a strong passion within the family and Karan became obsessed with style and all elements of fashion and design from an early age which continued to grow as she became older. After two years at the prestigious Parsons School of Design, she commenced work at Anne Klein whereby the young designer was responsible for creating a range of sportswear. In 1971, she then became associate designer of the company and after Klein died in 1974, was promoted to co-designer and worked alongside Louis Dell'Olio.

It was ten years later in 1981 with the backing and support of her husband Steven Weiss that Karan founded her own label Donna Karan New York. Karan’s first collection took four years to research, develop and design and launched in 1985. Though it wasn’t considered revolutionary or amazingly unique in style, what it did was deliver a different way for women to dress and provided something alternative to the power suit which was the current key look of that era that women found difficult to move away from. Karan combined elements of sharp and strong tailoring with sportswear inspired designs which created a more comfortable, luxurious and incredibly flattering rage of clothing for women of all body shapes. Ultimately she aimed to create a collection that was user friendly and easy to wear and a shift away from the constricted cuts and styles of the power suit.

Karan used a blend of cashmeres and various forms of Lycra in a sophisticated and versatile colour palette comprising heavily of blue, navy blue and black tones. Karan was also responsible for designing the famous ‘body’ or ‘bodysuit’ which was immensely practical and continues to circulate throughout seasonal trends time and time again. Every stylist will express the importance of owning a capsule wardrobe whereby every lady should have approximately 7 key garments that can be mixed and matched and worn season after season and have the ability to also blend with trend inspired pieces. It was Karan who introduced this concept which is reflected in her small but significant first collection.

Karan is also regarded as being one of the main innovators of introducing more affordable collections otherwise known as bridge lines. In 1988, recognising that people wanted to look stylish and chic but at accessible prices, Karan launched the lower priced but high quality DKNY label. DKNY now produces a vast array of clothing for men and women in addition to accessories, cosmetics and fragrances. The overall theme of DKNY is that it represents the spirit of New Look city. Karan grew up in New York and observed that people needed a label which produced clothing and accessories that could transcend from day to night, compliment a busy lifestyle and be comfortable to move around in yet still look sophisticated and flattering. Karan designs her creations for everyday people and believes that fashion is something that should be embraced according to your own shape and size and not something to be intimidated by, despite how it is often portrayed. It is the super stylish finish, fine cuts and versatility of the entire DKNY line that has made the brand so popular on a global scale.

DKNY watches are a core part of the accessories collection and perfectly depict the essence of what DKNY represents as a fashion label. With watches made for men and women, the brand gears its designs towards conveying New York style, culture and trends.

Donna Karan strongly believes that fashion should be timeless and adaptable and therefore DKNY watches are made to transcend from daywear to eveningwear and any occasion in between. However, there is a vast array of designs within the DKNY watch collection and some are more casual inspired whereas others are specifically designed to compliment a dressed up look. Whatever type of watch you are looking for, there is sure to be something within the DKNY watch collection to appeal.

Colour is a prominent feature in DKNY watches and the tones used are often kept in accordance with seasonal trends. With watches that boast vibrant pink, blue or green leather straps for example, the dials remain demurely understated, minimal and sophisticated meaning that the watches look statement and highly stylish but not too elaborate. The colourful watches definitely appeal to a younger market who may be more concerned with trends but all DKNY watches also appeal and are suitable for a wide range of ages due to the chic design which refrains from becoming too fussy. If you are particularly girly, DKNY watches also have a wonderful selection of designs which include baby pink and white colour tones for an added feminine and fresh finish.

DKNY is also renowned for its elegant range of watches; many of which feature jewellery inspired dainty stainless steel or gold plated stainless bracelet straps and some are slightly bolder with wider straps that incorporate the brand logo. Embellishments in the form of diamante stones are also used either on the strap, case or dial which definitely adds to the glam factor! If you are looking for something with a bit of sparkle, DKNY watches achieve the right balance with strong hints of glamour incorporated into smart and sleek designs.

DKNY watches are definitely a great representation of sophisticated style and have that ability to make you feel instantly polished and chic. The brand strives to capture the essence of New York City, conveying the vibrancy and versatility of the people who live within it and the watches are designed to be mixed and matched with a variety of looks to make dressing for any occasion as effortless as possible. DKNY is the brand choice of numerous celebrities and style icons and is the one label that will see you through every fashion season in absolute style.