Donna Karan's New Fragrance Is For New Yorkers

Though Donna Karan's devotion to the Big Apple is well-documented, the designer's newly debuted fragrance is on a whole other level. For a price of $24 to $88 a pop, consumers can indulge in a bit of unadulterated New York City love. With its New York City skyline-inspired cap, its heart-shaped design, and a New York pride-based social media campaign in the works, the scent is an unabashed tribute to Donna Karan's home base.

DKNY My NY is a complex, heady blend of jasmine, freesia, vanilla, patchouli, and raspberries, but the real story is the inspiration behind the perfume. Karan selected performing artist Rita Ora as the face of DKNY My NY, citing Ora's natural charisma and spirit as the reason behind her casting choice. In an interview with Women's Wear Daily , Karan elaborated on her esteem for Ora and the ways in which the singer will enhance the DKNY identity, stating,

If Rita can’t sell it, I don’t know who can. You’ve got a young, hip woman of New York speaking about it, a woman who goes from day to night. I think Rita’s a great representative of DKNY. She’s full of life, she’s about what everyone wants to feel — energy.

Indeed, Ora is a woman of many talents; though her hypothetical LinkedIn page would probably say "musician," she's more well known in the US for her awesome sense of style and occasional Fashion Week catwalk appearances. Plus, she'll contribute her talents to the forthcoming Fifty Shades of Grey film adaptation. Describing her excitement for the new fragrance, Ora stated in a press release:

The fragrance celebrates New York City, which is unlike anyplace else in the world. I love the idea of being part of a campaign that captures the spirit of New York and the stories of women here, passionate about their dreams.

Perhaps the most anticipated facet of DKNY My NY's launch, however, is its inclusion of New York's non-celebrity population. The campaign will encourage real New York residents to provide their own impressions of the city, including a quiz to choose which variety of New Yorker they are, and an opportunity to take their personally compiled images of New York City and craft them into a heart using the campaign's technology. And in a city that moves at such an accelerated pace, it's a joy to take a step back and appreciate the intricate and chaotic beauty that is NYC.

Images: DKNY