September 28, 2015
In this candid and revealing memoir, fashion designer Karan recalls her less-than-perfect youth, her relationship with mentor Anne Klein, her glory years as a mega-successful fashion designer, and her grief over losing the love of her life to cancer. Born Donna Faske in 1948 in Queens, N.Y., Karan grew up around the fashion world: her father was a gifted tailor and her mother was a model turned showroom saleswoman. Karan officially began her career interning for the prestigious Seventh Avenue designer Anne Klein, who became like a second mother to the talented yet inexperienced designer. While engaged to Mark Karan, who she went on to marry in 1968, Karan fell for sexy, older Stephan Weiss, who became her on-again, off-again "addiction." Their affair eventually led to her divorce, followed by her marriage to Weiss; his illness and death were crushing to Karan. She details her rise in the fashion world, including the launch of Donna Karan New York with the highly innovative, original Seven Easy Pieces. Over the years, she struggled with the frenzy of her life as well as a loss of identity, turning to mainstream and alternative healers and spiritualists with her "spiritual sister" Barbra Streisand (who writes the foreword). After decades in the business, the A-list designer, world traveler, and philanthropist finally steps down from her brand. Karan is generous with honesty and insight. The book's energy is infectious, and Karan's instinctive talent on the page and off is fascinating. Color photos.