Collection: Donna Karan

The Donna Karan universe is based on an aesthetic designed for active, modern, often urban women. Her sunglasses reflect this philosophy: effective shapes, sometimes bold, but always wearable; understated frames with clean lines, with a predilection for dark or metallic shades, without ostentation.

The Donna Karan brand was founded in New York in 1984 by the designer of the same name, a graduate of the Anne Klein studio. She quickly established a vision of fashion based on "Seven Easy Pieces": a wardrobe designed to simplify women's lives while enhancing their silhouette. In the 1990s, the brand launched accessory collections, including sunglasses, produced under license with specialist groups such as Marchon Eyewear. These models are generally made in Italy or Japan and designed to reflect the brand's DNA: functionality, modernity, and urban sophistication.

Donna Karan sunglasses from the 90s-2000s adopted wraparound, geometric, or elongated oval shapes, sometimes in a sporty-chic style. Some models are reminiscent of goggles, but with high-end finishes: anodized metal, matte acetates, smoked gradient lenses. There are also minimalist models in black acetate with thin temples and a tone-on-tone logo. The DKNY 4232 series is a good example of this period, with a thin dark metal frame and dark gray lenses. Vintage Donna Karan glasses generally have an interior inscription with the words “Donna Karan New York” or “DKNY,” followed by the model code.

In 1997, Donna Karan sold part of her brand to the LVMH group, but retained the creative direction for nearly a decade. During this period, she consolidated DKNY's image as a young, urban line, parallel to the main Donna Karan brand. The sunglasses produced between 1998 and 2003 reflect this dual identity: on the one hand, the luxurious understatement of Donna Karan, on the other, the more street-style and accessible tone of DKNY, with more graphic and sometimes colorful models.

Vintage Donna Karan sunglasses are of interest for their ability to synthesize the codes of discreet American luxury of the late 20th century. Their manufacturing (mainly Italian or Japanese), their comfort, and their aesthetic balance make them representative pieces of an era, without exuberance. Their relative rarity—especially on the European market—combined with the quality of their finish and stylistic consistency with ready-to-wear collections, make them attractive to lovers of understated but designer eyewear.