The Donna Karan Factor

A conversation with Donna Karan takes off. Lead with her fabulous fall fashion show—the stated topic for a conversation over lunch at the Stephan Weiss studio—and she’s recounting spring break with Gabby and the grandkids in Costa Rica; appreciate the salmon and she’s opening a restaurant. Ask about Urban Zen’s recent turn toward wholesale, and she wends back not only to a prelaunch meeting circa 2006 with Yves Carcelle (included here) but to Anne Klein-era exchanges with Frank Mori and Tomio Taki (interesting but too off-topic for the space allotted). While Karan’s antilinear thought process makes for circuitous banter that can exasperate the journalist, it engages the lunch companion. And it’s never about evasion. Asked about that exquisite fall collection, her new chief executive officer and fashion group president, her future and the rumor mill, she answers it all—eventually. WWD: The show was amazing. Donna Karan: After runway, I had to go to Italy, then Paris. I just came back from Costa Rica. Costa Rica was my first shot of saying, “Maybe there is hope.” It’s not all commercialized. It was pure. The people were pure, the restaurants were pure. It was the opportunity for me to be with the family. Gabby’s

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from WWD » Ralph Lauren’s Opening in São Paulo http://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/the-donna-karan-factor-10109598/

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