Fashion designer Donna Karan was born on October 2, 1948, in New York. She began working at Anne Klein's atelier while studying at Parsons School of Design. She dropped out after two years to focus on her work. She worked as an assistant, but was promoted to head designer upon Anne's death in 1974. Her achievements were subsequently recognized, with her receiving the Coty Award in 1977 and 1981. In 1985, she co-founded Donna Karan New York with her husband, Weiss, and won Designer of the Year that same year. She subsequently launched various lines, including the casual line DKNY in 1988, the jeans line DKNY Jeans in 1990, the men's line Donna Karan Men in 1991, and DKNY Men in 1992. She has been honored multiple times by the CFDA Fashion Awards and currently serves as a member of the CFDA Board of Directors. In 2000, her brand was acquired by LVMH and she gave up management rights. Since then, she has focused on her work as a designer. Her elegant designs, which make full use of delicate draping, are known.