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photography courtesy of donna karan "[the spring 2015 collection] is about bold artistic expression. We used a lot of color and embellishments—this from a house knoWn for its black!" —donna karan to inspire the way women dress today. "Just a handful of pieces—usually in body-con- scious jerseys—to create multiple looks that take her from day into night, work- week into weekend." What made the system revolution- ary at the time, insists Karan, is how it simplified a woman's wardrobe without sacrificing sophistication. "Every piece accentuated the positive and deleted the negative," she says, "empowering a woman to feel confident about how she looks." Thirty years later, that same spirit of confidence and ease is alive and well on the Donna Karan runway. For Spring 2015, Karan presented a spirited collection of struc- tured bra tops, belted shirt dresses, and high-waisted pants. Street art–inspired prints pepper the collection with a playful modernity. "It's about bold artistic expression," says Karan. "We used a lot of color and embellishments—this from a house known for its black!" For dedicated minimalists, there are still plenty of signature DK looks to be had, including sleek black jackets and pants, coffee- and cream-colored dresses perfect for a power lunch at RL, and simple jersey silhouettes in poppy red and caramel. Karan's clothes have always championed a multifaceted woman not unlike herself. In addition to running a classic American brand, Karan devotes much of her free time to charity: She is the cofounder of Seventh on Sale, an organization that raises money and awareness for the AIDS epidemic; Kids 4 Kids, created to benefit the fight against pediatric AIDS; and Super Saturday, an event in the Hamptons that raises money for ovarian cancer. In addition, Karan's foundation, Urban Zen, supports causes near to her heart, such as wellness programs in hospitals and preserving artisan cultures around the world, especially in Haiti. "Philanthropy has always been a part of my DNA," says the designer, "and women's initiatives are important to me because ovarian and breast cancers are not just women's diseases; they affect [the whole family]." From those efforts to her status as a fashion force, Karan has inspired genera- tions of women to pursue their dreams. Still, she dismisses the old saw about women being able to have it all. "It's just not possible," she insists. "You need a support system and a strategy to juggle it all. You need flexibility in your clothes—and that's how we empower women. We give her clothes that go day into night, that make her feel good, whatever is thrown at her in the course of the day. Then she can get on to what really matters in her life, which is the most modern vision of all." neiman marcus, 737 n. michigan ave., 312-642-5900; donnakaran.com MA Structured bra tops and street art–inspired prints were on prominent display at Karan's Spring 2015 runway show (shown here and right). Hand-painted leather bracelets (below right) next to a sketch from Karan's new collection. 32 michiganavemag.com Style tastemaker