The look of spring 2012
At New York fashion week, Donna Karan goes tribal with the help of Wyclef Jean
Model Karlie Kloss closed the Donna Karan show in a black/earth/bone stretchsilk/vicose organza evening gown.Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Wyclef JeanPhoto by Clifford Pugh
Diana McFarlane, Sheridan WilliamsPhoto by Clifford Pugh
Karan's signature body dress in a bold violetPhoto by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
NEW YORK — Wyclef Jean and Donna Karan go way back. Before he was a singer, Jean worked as a security guard at a Karan factory in New Jersey. One time he fell asleep on the job and thieves stole some clothes.
"I knew if I ever made it as a rock star I would pay her back," he recalled, from his front row seat at the Karan show.
He got that opportunity after the earthquake devastated his home country of Haiti last year and he connected with Karan, who wanted to help the victims. She refused his offer of repayment but they established a bond.
Karan found inspiration for her collection in tribal prints, mask totems, necklaces and wrist pieces made by Haitian artisans. The result: A collection that merges the Haitian culture with her strong, sporty aesthetic.
She also found the inspiration for her spring 2012 collection in the tribal prints, mask totems, necklaces and wrist pieces made by Haitian artisans. The result: A collection that merges the Haitian culture with Karan's strong, sporty aesthetic.
Throughout the collection, Karan features strong prints in brown, black, bone and clay on stretch canvas fabrics, based on the artwork of Haitian artist Phillipe Dodoar. "Tribal tech" accessories include hand-carved platform wedges and giant necklaces made of shards of wood and lucite, based on mask totems.
It made for a strong, if sometimes repetitive, point of view. To offer her customer a little more variety, Karan added several of the body hugging dresses she is known for in an electric violet color and citrus shades. The bold colors really popped out amid the prints.
"To see this line is like an epiphany to me. It's exciting. It's sexy. It's daring. It's fun," John said after viewing the collection. "I want people to know there's a sexy side to our ladies. This is just the start of it."
Also on hand was Sheridan Williams who flew up from Houston for the show. Williams is among a handful of Donna Karan Ambassadors selected from across the United States for their stylish philanthropy and was seated in a prominent row just behind W magazine editor Stefano Tonchi and his crew.
