 donna karan (born october 2, 1948), also known under the alias "dk", is an american fashion designer and the creator of the donna karan new york and dkny clothing labels. ==early life== she graduated from hewlett high school in 1966, and then went to the parsons school of design. ==career== after leaving college, karan worked for anne klein, eventually becoming head of the anne klein design-team, where she remained until 1985, when she launched her eponymous donna karan label.  ===career=== karan began her career as an assistant designer with anne klein in the late 1960s, where she was promoted to associate designer in 1971. as klein's assistant, karan was a participant in the battle of versailles fashion show on november 28, 1973. when klein herself died in 1974, takihyo corporation of japan became the new owner and karan, together with her former classmate and friend louis dell'ollio, became head designer of the house. in 1984, karan left anne klein and, together with her then husband stephan weiss and takihyo corporation, started her own business "to design modern clothes for modern people". she showed her first women's clothing collection in 1985.  karan became well known for her 'essentials' line, initially offering seven easy pieces which could all be mixed and matched, and created a fully integrated wardrobe. karan always insisted that she would only design clothes, like jersey dresses and opaque lycra tights, that she would also wear herself. in 1988, karan, nicknamed the queen of seventh avenue,{{cite web|title=designing woman donna karan|url=http://www.cbsnews
1948_births American_Jews American_fashion_businesspeople American_fashion_designers George_W._Hewlett_High_School_alumni High_fashion_brands Jewish_fashion_designers Living_people Parsons_The_New_School_for_Design_alumni People_from_Five_Towns,_New_York People_from_Forest_Hills,_Queens Project_Runway_(U.S._series)_judges