Donna Karan looked afar for her Spring 2012 collection, which had a powerful tribal element that was more queen-of-the-desert than girl-on-safari. Karan cited her recent travels in Haiti as inspiration, which would explain why Wyclef Jean sat front row, and received a big kiss from Karan during her final bow. Glamourous, body-hugging ruched gowns were rendered in earth tones like mud, sienna, black, and cream, and accessorized with incredible spiked necklaces, which made the tall, slender models with their slicked back ponytails seem regal. There were daytime options too, like an airy canvas full skirt covered in earth-toned brushstrokes and paired with a sexy cutout racer bra, and a tailored leather tent coat over a canvas and jersey dress. The key, though, was the body-flattering drape of the dresses. Karan might be designing from an intensely personal experience, but she always keeps the everyday woman in mind, and the precise ruching and draping reflected her knowledge of a woman's curves in all the right ways. Watch our runway video to see the gorgeous looks in motion!
Trends: tribal, leather, body-conscious silhouettes.
Colors: Bone, clay, burnt orange, papaya, tan, fern green.
Key Look: A clay and black stretch linen canvas and jersey dress, canvas jackets, ruched gowns.
Accessories: A highlight of the show: wood and lucite came together in spiked bib necklaces and geometric bangles, and clutches were made of wooden slats for a strong tribal statement.
Who Would Wear It: Classic women with independent style whose primary concern is luxurious fit and fabrication — we would love to see Julianne Moore in one of these gowns.
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