Donna Karan is one ambitious designer previewing not one but two collections during fashion week. Her DKNY line was presented today and here is an up close and detailed look at a few selections from the collection. Filled with luxe leathers, figure flattering skirts, body hugging dresses and one unique belt that seemed to be a “must have item” featured in a number of ensembles. For a look at the complete collection log onto www.style.com      

If you’ve ever  thought that a neutral color palette was boring.g.g.g., then take a moment and check out these beautiful close up shots from Donna Karan’s Fall Winter 2011 Collection. When it comes to a designer who knows a thing  or two about “neutral territory”…Donna Karan should  be considered the “Switzerland” of Fashion.  

 For the complete Donna Karan Fall/Winter 2011 collection: Click onto www.style.com or www.donnakaran.com

 Fashion Tip: Mix different textures in the same color palette for a look of sleek sophistication.. 

Another New York Fashion Week ,has come to an end. Long before the press packed up their cameras, and designers showed their collections, and magazine editors took copious notes, and models were selected to walk the runway, and seamstresses worked tirelessly to make the designs that the models would wear, and the magazine editors would covet and the press would photograph…a designer started with a simple sketch. Yes, dear Glamour Girl all this hoop-la about fashion, and accessories and handbags usually starts with a rendering, a drawing if you will of an inspiration or idea that a designer drew on paper.

Below are a few sketches from some very talented designers. Look to their “future” collections to see these designs come to fruition. All I can say is that somewhere along the way Donna and Oscar and Tory must have got an A in Art! 

Neautral Bag & Shoe Silouette for Fall ..Sketch by Donna Karan

Fur Lined Over the Knee Boot by Oscar de la Renta

Sturctured Bags for Fall 2011 sketch by Tory Burch

                                                                                 All images courtesy of Elle.com

Donna Karan is one ambitious woman. Every season she designs two…count um …two separate collections for New York Fashion Week. Her very upscale “luxury collection” is appropriately names Donna Karan, and her secondary line which evokes a very hip, uber chic and trendy look is named DKNY.  Donna presented both collections this week and true to form the Donna Karan Label was exquisitely designed with fabrications that literally flowed over and around the body. I have always said that nobody… but nobody, drapes fabric better than Donna Karan.

I often wonder when I view a collection where the design inspiration comes from? This Fall 2011 collection for the Donna Karan label had me thinking that perhaps Donna was channeling, Grace Kelly in her heyday (think 1950’s Hollywood starlet and early days-Princess of Monaco). Look closely and see if you don’t notice Grace Kelly “signature pieces” within the Donna Karan Label: the long scarf wrapped around the neck, the structured handbag, the simple lines of the wrapped coat and the cinched in waist on her jackets. All so beautiful. All so well constructed. All so GRACE – FUL!!!!