Donna Karan Unveils Relaunch With Supermodel-Studded Campaign

Celebrating a new era of Donna Karan New York, the brand launches the "In Women We Trust" campaign for Spring/Summer 2024, acknowledging both the heritage of Donna Karan, while also marking a new chapter in the brand's legacy and future. The campaign features eight iconic supermodels—Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow, Carolyn Murphy, Imaan Hammam, Karlie Kloss, and Liya Kebede—all of whom have their own unique connection to the brand and epitomise an era of Donna Karan's enduring fashion ethos in one way or another. 

Karan launched her eponymous brand in the mid-'80s with the "7 Easy Pieces" collection—a line created for the average modern woman. Through the strength of a simple capsule collection, the first of which included a black bodysuit, skirt, dress, trousers, cashmere sweater, tailored jacket, and a plain white top. With her first show, Karan, often referred to as the "mother of the capsule wardrobe," proved to the world that clothing does not need to be complicated to be chic. “Donna represents strength and sensuality. You can be whoever you want to be,” says Evangelista.

Following the success of several subsequent collections, Donna Karan became a household name. Driven by the continued emphasis on pared-back essentials, the popularity of the brand and its ethos continued into the '90s, defining the fashion of the decade—and an entire generation of women—through the power of sophisticated, yet simple clothing that looked at home on both the runway and the streets of NYC

This new era invites a new generation of fashion fans into the fold of Donna Karan New York's '90s minimalist DNA to discover the power of quality luxury clothing designed to live in your wardrobe forever. “It’s not about the clothes, it’s always been about the woman in the clothes,” says Valletta. Shot by legendary female photographer Annie Leibovitz, the campaign shoot showcases looks that pay triumphant homage to Donna Karan's "7 Easy Pieces," resulting in classic, vintage-inspired archival pieces tailored to these diverse, dynamic women, but revitalized with a fresh, contemporary essence. 

Featuring pieces like crisp cotton shirt dresses, the label's signature bodysuits, and lightweight blazers, the collection recalls the effortless elegance and accessible modern luxury that led to the cult following of Donna Karan New York in the '90s. Crafted with every modern woman in mind, crisp tailoring and universally flattering cuts are seen in draped sleeveless dresses and collared black bodysuits alike, resulting in a vision of versatility and sensuality that highlights both the clothing and the woman wearing it. 

“She introduced a new style of power dressing, which celebrated women and their bodies. That was her sweet spot, and it still is,” says Crawford.

Whether it was the recent '90s style renaissance, the vintage DKNY pieces spotted on It girls like Kendall Jenner and Grace van Patten, or simply a collective urge to return to an era of fashion that was effortlessly wearable and timeless that has inspired the current Donna Karan craze—evidenced by a 300% search increase on Google Trends, as well as a steadily increasing number of pieces found in NYC vintage stores—it's safe to say that the designer's philosophy and quintessential sophisticated style has struck a chord with the women of Gen Z.