Wearing a flouncy black sheath and leather riding boots, Donna Karan strode into the French Embassy with a dual purpose: “I came to dress you, and I came to address you—about the issues that are important to me.” The American fashion stalwart, known as much for her chic sportswear as the red carpet-ready gowns she designs, sat down with Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing to comment on her collections (while a dozen or so models paraded for an eager clutch of well-heeled Washingtonian women) and also spoke about her charitable works in Haiti and New York through the Urban Zen Foundation. The program celebrated local philanthropic initiatives as well: the cause of the day was the District’s Sitar Arts Center, a community-based outreach facility that offers arts and learning programs to the city’s underserved youth.

Wearing a flouncy black sheath and leather riding boots, Donna Karan strode into the French Embassy with a dual purpose: “I came to dress you, and I came to address you—about the issues that are important to me.” The American fashion stalwart, known as much for her chic sportswear as the red carpet-ready gowns she designs, sat down with Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing to comment on her collections (while a dozen or so models paraded for an eager clutch of well-heeled Washingtonian women) and also spoke about her charitable works in Haiti and New York through the Urban Zen Foundation. The program celebrated local philanthropic initiatives as well: the cause of the day was the District’s Sitar Arts Center, a community-based outreach facility that offers arts and learning programs to the city’s underserved youth.

Wearing a flouncy black sheath and leather riding boots, Donna Karan strode into the French Embassy with a dual purpose: “I came to dress you, and I came to address you—about the issues that are important to me.” The American fashion stalwart, known as much for her chic sportswear as the red carpet-ready gowns she designs, sat down with Neiman Marcus fashion director Ken Downing to comment on her collections (while a dozen or so models paraded for an eager clutch of well-heeled Washingtonian women) and also spoke about her charitable works in Haiti and New York through the Urban Zen Foundation. The program celebrated local philanthropic initiatives as well: the cause of the day was the District’s Sitar Arts Center, a community-based outreach facility that offers arts and learning programs to the city’s underserved youth.