Donna Karan Brings Back The Art Of Getting Dressed For The Night

Some clothes are designed to get you through the day. Others make you want to cancel your plans, change outfits twice, and leave the house just to give them an outing. Donna Karan New York’s Fall/Winter 2026 campaign belongs firmly in the second category.

With Irina Shayk returning as the face of the brand, the latest campaign leans into a distinctly New York kind of glamour: dark, confident, a little sensual, and never particularly interested in playing it safe. Photographed by Mert Alas, the images move between everyday dressing and full evening drama, with a wardrobe that makes black feel anything but predictable.

Black Is Never Just Black

Images via @donnakaran

The collection builds its identity through texture and proportion rather than a complicated color story. An open belted leather trench, a strapless leather dress and a V-neck cocktail dress with sculptural gold hardware establish the mood. Then comes the full-length sequin gown, layered beneath a long wool coat.

That last combination is the one I keep coming back to. Sequins already have a reputation for demanding attention, but putting them underneath substantial outerwear gives the look a different kind of confidence. It is glamour with a little restraint, the sort of outfit that does not need to announce itself from across the room.

Gold hardware also does some serious work here. Rather than adding sparkle for its own sake, the sculptural details interrupt the black silhouettes and give the clothes a recognizable focal point. The effect feels more architectural than decorative.

The City Is Part of the Outfit

Images via @donnakaran

Donna Karan has always had a particular relationship with New York, and this campaign understands that the city is more than a convenient backdrop. Its atmosphere is part of the wardrobe's identity. There is a reason the label's approach to dressing has historically focused on clothes that move between different parts of a woman's life.

The interesting thing is how little the collection separates daytime practicality from evening dressing. A leather trench can be worn open over bare legs, but it can also become the finishing layer over something much simpler. A long coat over a sequin gown makes the occasion feel less precious. The clothes are dramatic, but they still leave room for real life.

The accessories follow the same thinking. The black leather Bridgehampton Tote and Cashmere Clutch keep the palette consistent while offering two very different approaches to carrying the essentials.

A Wardrobe With Somewhere to Go

Images via @donnakaran

I appreciate that this collection does not treat party dressing as a separate universe. The best evening pieces are often the ones that can be styled in unexpected ways, rather than saved for one carefully planned occasion.

Donna Karan New York's Fall/Winter 2026 collection is available now through the brand's website and select retailers. With Shayk, Alas and a wardrobe built around leather, wool, sequins and sculptural gold, the campaign makes a convincing argument for bringing a little more occasion into the everyday.