DKNY

Profile

Donna Karan began her label with the simple philosophy that a woman needs only seven quality pieces to make a wardrobe, and her design dogma is displayed full-force at DKNY, where simple essentials like blazers, sheath dresses and slim black pants have dominated the racks since the 1990s. But you can't build an empire on seven easy wardrobe pieces; the brand’s recent ready-to-wear expansion has added weekend garb like flirty silk halters and denim motorcycle jackets to the roster of classics. Men's and women's offerings are separated by floor, though the store's bold blue, steel-lined, and light-flooded interior stays consistent throughout. Reflecting the label's eclectic urban style, the two-story space frames racks of the latest clothes with giant windows and seasonal photomontage murals; many store visitors are particularly taken with the second floor, which features occasional exhibits by Donna's artist friends and huge windows with sparkling views of Madison Avenue. — Faran Alexis Krentcil

Post-Thanksgiving, Post-Christmas, Labor Day.