DKNY Fashion Show New York Womenswear SS2016

After Donna Karan went out with a bang last season fresh faces at the DKNY designer’s desk Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne took over. Yesterday they presented their first collection for the brand inspired by what is perhaps Donna Karan’s most iconic fashion piece: the pinstripe power suit. They kept things very clean and simple, which gave the DKNY girl a super sophisticated and modern update. In a monochrome palette (we spotted just two touches of blue at the end of the show) the designers introduced a boxy blazer (worn by Maartje Verhoef) as a dress, a pinstriped pencil skirt matched with a basic white Tee and the most plain white playsuit. Simple, plain, elementary, yet never dull. Chow and Osborne made sure of that by sending out multiple variations of that particular power suit. The jackets double breasted and roomy. The dresses layered and asymmetric. Sheer T-shirts slowly transformed into a selection of sheer midi finale dresses. Loose hanging straps and chic simple clutches were the only accessories of the show. Were there enough new elements to give DKNY it’s own identity without the label’s founder on board? We’re not sure yet. But this was a show stuffed with youthful, commercial looks any NYC-girl would want to wear. No doubt about it. And while her autobiography hits stores this week Donna Karan herself approved of this collection by attending from her front row seat. New beginnings just had a great start.