Donna Karan is the founder and chief designer for Donna Karan International, the fashion label owned by French luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

After studying two years at Parsons School of Design (now known as Parsons The New School for Design), Karan left to work for Anne Klein in 1966. (She would receive her Parsons bachelors of fine arts degree 21 years later.) Karan became the label’s co-designer following Klein’s death in 1974.

Ten years later, Karan founded her own company. The first collection in 1985 was an instant hit for its seven easy pieces system of dressing, a mix-and-match approach to creating a complete wardrobe.

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Karan created the DKNY lower-priced label in 1988 and took Donna Karan International public in 1996. Following the label’s heyday in the 1990s, LVMH bought Donna Karan International in 2001, retaining her as chief designer. Today, the diversified brand covers women’s wear, men’s wear, beauty and home furnishings.

The self-effacing Karan has won awards from the Council of Fashion Designer of America awards six times. She is most celebrated for revolutionizing fashion for career women by remaking the business suit with feminine styling and comfort. Her popular slinky jersey dresses and “seven easy pieces” system for dressing have also earned Karan the “Queen of Seventh Avenue” moniker.