In looking at collection images, one might forget the many hands that help shape a garment and the research that goes into perfecting a seasonal message. Months before anything is created, the Donna Karan New York team focuses on fabric research with trips across the globe, a process that sparks innovation with vegan leathers, super fine merino wools and soft jerseys.
This type of deep dive is usually associated with brands at a much higher price point, but here it speaks to how much garments are considered at the American brand, where, since it was rebooted two years ago, the top price point is $800.
For fall 2026, the DNA of the founder is seen throughout, including zeroing in on who the end customers are: powerful multidimensional women who crave a wardrobe to match. Tailored power suiting; knit separates, like super thin turtlenecks; a chunky pullover, and a pencil skirt with gathering details all came with modern twists. The fall palette of black cherry (Karan used red often and here it was a new darker sensual hue), espresso brown, sandy beige and, of course, jet black made for a lineup able to meet a wide range of urban everyday needs.
Standouts included outerwear in silky faux furs, a buttery leather trench, a sporty zipup bomber jacket and a cocoon coat with cap arm holes. The team styled it all monochromatically, yet in the vein of the founding designer’s famed “seven easy pieces.” Each was an evolution of past seasons rather than a daunting new trend proposal, easily fitting into pieces customers bought in the past.
As they say, the devil is in the details and they mattered here with sculptural gold closings on blazers and coats and a reworked archival jacket with a paneling underside to add movement while hugging the arm. Pieces are meant to be lived in, day to night, and how each piece moves through the world was a high design priority for the team — comfort was key to the founder and it’s still front and center.
As for event or holiday dressing? A host of new dresses, including a one-sleeve asymmetrical satin frock or a sheath dress in a burnout fabric.
Executives shared that every category is doing well and they continue to fill it out, including the Donna Karan Weekend capsule launched for holiday 2025 as a line of seasonless separates designed to be worn in a multitude of ways. Silhouettes for the capsule included lightweight cardigans, ribbed knits and textured sweaters paired with fluid pants and flowing skirts.
Other newness came from accessories, like the gold jewelry range that played with the many moments of hardware seen in the ready-to-wear and an expanded shoe and handbag offering, all in the same colorways, completing the look.
The end result was a fall collection that was considered and punched its price point.
