Liveblogging the Shows: DKNY

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In an effort to make reading Racked NY as much like being in the tents as humanly possible, we'll be liveblogging the shows all week, from the suspense of waiting in line (will the seats be any good?) to the drama of the runway (will anyone stumble?) to the post-show euphoria. This time around: Classic city style from DKNY

Show location: An event space on Greenwich Street and Charles, in the West Village
The skinny: Donna Karan debuts another casual collection heavy on the New York references, aimed at the younger set who will eventually (and hopefully) become the high-powered city women who flock to her Donna Karan Collection label.
Celebs spotted: Alison Brie of Mad Men and Community, Nina Garcia, Hamish Bowles, Keke Palmer
The takeaway: It was clear from the program that Donna again takes her inspiration from New York: "an eclectic mix of Bauhaus grids, deco florals, equestrian plaids and schoolgirl kilts." The overall attitude was boarding school girl, but one who makes a uniform her own with individual style. A long sleeveless fur coat and fur stole topped looks of earthy-toned dresses that adopted a Mondrian-ish pattern with a few sparkly beaded strips thrown in. And the heels? Skyscraper-high, but the program makes us think there is serious potential for them to become a hit: "Brogue-style...customized with added-on spats or boot sleeves."

1:05pm: The room smells amazing—there's incense burning somewhere around here. I see lots of women in high, high Loubs. It's filling up quick!

1:12pm: There's a girl in the audience wearing a coonskin cap.

1:13pm: Random up-and-coming celebrity spotting: Trudy from Mad Men (who also plays Annie on community). Trudy would be delighted to be here, and we suspect she would know exactly what to wear.

1:16pm: Also see Scott "the Sartorialist" Schuman, plus a slew of editors: Meredith Melling Burke from Vogue, Booth Moore from the LA Times, Robin Givhan.

1:19pm: As you may have seen on Twitter, there is indeed a hot chocolate stand. Genius.

1:20pm: They're seating us!

1:22pm: We've all been instructed to uncross our legs. And the plastic is coming up...

1:28pm: Plaids! Lots of brown. Very schoolgirl/collegiate but flirty.

1:30pm: Lovely wool coats, nice leather detailing. Fur (hope it's fake) in the form of a stole.

1:32pm: Tall, tall shoes.

1:33pm: More fur—a mink-looking sleeveless coat.

1:34pm: So much velvet! And chocolate—matches the stand outside!

1:36pm: Just ended. Donna came out in Haiti tee with two kids.

1:37pm: Early post-show takeaway: Kind of Mondrian squares of muted earthy colors broken up by strips of sparkle.

1:39pm: Audience member down! She was walking on top the bleacher-type seats to leave and stepped on a program. She's OK, though.

1:41pm: Those two kids Donna Karan walked out with were her grandkids.