New York's Fashion Week is so hectic that no one expects to take a moment to breathe. So Donna Karan surprised herself when she actually managed to get a few moments of rest.
"I slept yesterday. I fell asleep during the afternoon, which I have never done. I mean never. I really actually stopped," the designer said Thursday during her final fashion week show, where she featured her DKNY resort collection.
Karan says she depends on juicing, yoga and meditation to keep her energy up during fashion week, which actually spans almost two weeks. She says it's important because for her, the festivities are about more than fashion.
"Not only do I have to take care of myself, but I am driven to make a difference in the world, not only by dressing people, but addressing their needs at hand. It co-balances what I do in my life," said Karan. "If I had a customer come into the dressing room, it was not about what she was wearing on the outside, but what was she wearing on the inside?"
Karan's show, sponsored by American Express, included a performance from singer Lykke Li. She showed another collection earlier in the week which was inspired by Haiti.
Haiti will be the center point next week when she hosts an event celebrating the book "Haiti After the Earthquake"; former President Bill Clinton, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are expected to attend. This weekend, she's due to participate in the WIE Symposium (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise) over the weekend alongside big names such as Arianna Huffington and Christy Turlington.
Karan says her goal is to "truly to galvanize a community, not only to dress people on the outside, but to dress them on the inside."
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Alicia Quarles is the AP's global entertainment editor. Follow her at http://www.twitter.com/aliciaquarles