stefanie hernandez has the artists touch with model alex

briana and alex enjoy the companionship of sasha

onyx is good company

team donni with melody (right) in hand

showing bella some love

alyssa at work

creating a vision

spring again is upon us and donni charm arrives with a brand new colorful & fun spring line, full of scarves and tee’s! we wanted to give you a sneak peek into our spring/Grateful Dead 2012 photo shoot in nyc’s soho.

with an unusual backdrop in mind, team donni headed to the Humane Society of New York to kick off the day. as a new york apartment dweller and as an insanely busy entrepreneur, it is not always easy for our favorite designer alyssa to get her dog fix in. therefore, hosting a shoot at the humane society showcased two of the things we love most, our fabulous donni charm scarves and our best doggy friends.

immediately upon entering the humane society, it did not feel like a shelter but rather  like a home. the employees were all so welcoming,  extremely helpful and more than excited to be working with the donni charm team, and trust us, the  feeling  was mutual!  models alex santinelli and briana adler,  hair & make-up artist stefanie hernandez,  photographers peter and greg from SPREADhouse photography and designer alyssa set to work on making this the best photo shoot yet.  once the team set their sights on the adorable dogs, they couldn’t help but smile and excitement grew for the rest of the day.

the unique location proved our hair & make-up artist stefanie, could work her magic anywhere as the models sat on stools in an animal exam room. janelle pentlicky and shoshi leftin kept everything running smoothly while the models prepped for the shoot and alyssa and  the photographers greg & peter, escaped for a while to select dogs and scout shooting areas (although most of the time was spent playing with the dogs).

the humane society and the dogs were more than happy to share their “home” with team donni. the atmosphere was relaxed and cheerful and it was truly inspiring to see the inside workings of the shelter. once the girls & dogs were dolled up, the dogs kindly let the team  invade the doggy exercise space- the roof or ruff as they say for some roof top fun in the city.  poses were also struck on the staircase as well as in the kennels for some added variety.

by the end, team donni was all smiles after a successful day of shooting, playing , and socializing.   to show our gratitude and admiration, we are proud to be able to donate a part of this month’s profits to the Humane Society of New York.  all of the pups in the shoot are available for adoption.

team donni gives a huge thank you to sandra, anna marie, peter and becca from the shelter.

the Humane Society of New York is an incredible organization that has been dedicating their services to the New York area for more than 100 years. they care for animals in need when illness, injury or homelessness strikes. they believe in individual care for each animal and provide quality services that are recognized and being modeled after across the nation. they provide an array of services including clinical evaluations and treatments, rescues, adoptions and are huge supports of humane issues.  please visit their website for more information:  http://humanesocietyny.org/about/mission.php

xo team donni

the magical set of the teen vogue photoshoot

a room full of clothes to play with

and jewelry galore

styling in the kitchen

being dressed by stylists... ahh the life

getting pretty

posing

looking chic

flowers make the best frame

the donni gem really makes this outfit pop

time for some touchups

gorgeous garden

a few adjustments

that's a wrap!

when teen vogue approached our designer alyssa wasko about doing an interview and photoshoot, she couldn’t believe that they wanted to feature her! while being in a magazine like teen vogue may be every other girls dream, our shy designer tends to avoid the spotlight. alyssa certainly loosened up as they pulled up to a whimsical cottage tucked away in hollywood hills. that’s right girls; it turns out that hollywood photoshoots really are a dream come true…

as alyssa walked in, she was greeted by all of her favorite clothes and shoes just her size! for the first time all morning, she felt more excitement than anxiety. the teen vogue stylists were so great and easy to work with.  alyssa recalls, hair and makeup was a blast. going for a more natural look, teen vogue barely used much makeup, except for red lipstick which took our girl a bit to get used to. the kitchen had a full spread of food that was there to help calm her nerves. as it came time to begin shooting, the photographer helped ease alyssa into the spotlight. despite her timidness and the fact that 12 people were watching her every move, the camera loved her. alyssa warmed up towards the end and really began to have fun with it. as the afternoon went on and alyssa was shot in 3 different outfits, the photographer decided he had captured the perfect picture and told our modest designer that she was a natural.

as the day wrapped to a close, alyssa was all too glad to be out of the spotlight and ready to get back to her normal life, or as normal as life is for a 22 year old fashion designer… for more behind the scenes and updates on the world of donni charm, keep up with our blog next week.

xo team donni

Being active is important.  Besides staying in shape, the number one benefit of exercise is increased feeling of wellbeing.  These days many people turn to yoga and pilates to relieve their body and their mind.  Team donni is no different and when we hit the gym, we do it in style.

The donni crush tee is the perfect way to stay fashionable whether you are looking to find your center or work up a sweat. With the loose neck and body cut, this design allows you to be comfy and cute, while keeping toned.  Enhanced by our signature wing stamp on the back, this tee will have the whole gym crushing on you!

The donni spark racer tank is another staple when heading to the yoga studio, not only for us here at donni charm but also for the celebrities who love our line!  Check out the pictures below of Megan Fox and Kendall Jenner wearing this tank on their way to and from the gym.  This baggy tank will be sure to keep you cool while getting all sparked up!

There is no reason why you can’t be styling while working on your fitness.  The donni crush tee and the donni spark tank are two great ways to look great even at the gym.

Don’t wait too long as these are sure to be sold out quickly…

xo team donni

As spring break is wrapping up for campuses across the nation, most 20-something year olds have turned their minds toward the upcoming, endless days of fun in the sun.  Team donni is no exception.

This summer, cut off shorts and studded sandals are designer Alyssa’s go-to pieces.  On the way to the beach?  Cover up your suit with our hot donni spark in denim.  Need something to wrap around your shoulders as the sun goes down?   Stay warm with our 100% summer weight cashmere, perfect for layering!  Alyssa’s pick: black donni air (as seen on Vanessa Hudgens!).

No matter where you are heading donni charm is the key to every outfit.  If you need help accessorizing your donni charm look, below are the items that are on Alyssa’s summer shopping list and are featured above.

tank- denim donni spark racer back tank.  Retail price: $57.00

scarf- black donni air with wing charm.  Retail price: $95.00

shorts- siwy madeleine cut-off shorts with exposed pockets in falcon’s eye.  Retail price: $143.00

sandals- jeffrey campbell tonic sandal in black.  Retail price: $119.00

bathing suit- mikoh st. Lucia bikini in black.  Retail price: $207.00

beach bag- halston heritage catherine sac bag in metallic. Sale price: $267.50

towel- missoni home “ina” beach towel.  Sale price: $205.00

Happy Summer!

xo team donni

The good luck charms we have chosen to adorn our scarves are the quintessential part that makes donni charm so unique.  Wearing a symbol with such a positive meaning wrapped around you is designed to bring you happiness and good luck.

Above are the charms that have been handpicked to embellish this season’s summer weight cashmere scarves.  We hope you will enjoy knowing the meaning behind these symbols and that you will keep them close to your heart as you wear your donni charm.

xo team donni

coming together for fashion

we finished setting up our booth in record time…checking out some of the other booths at PROJECT

featuring donni charm at coterie...

Alyssa working her artistic touch

selling at coterie

team donni in a business meeting

Exhibitors, retailers and fashionista’s alike flocked to the recent fashion trade shows PROJECT in Las Vegas and Coterie in New York.  Donni charm was lucky enough to be a part of both of these shows again in February. 

This spring, team donni started in Vegas, setting up almost before everyone else arrived! With plenty of our new line to decorate our booth, team donni designed the perfect layout to catch buyer’s eyes. 

The three days of PROJECT were full of business and little time to play, but finally team donni was able to pull away and explore the other exciting booths of the show.  It is every girls dream to see next season’s collections from brands like j brand to wildfox exploring was so much fun…

After the quick-paced days of Las Vegas, the girls of donni charm had a little over a day home before moving on to New York.  Coterie brought more excitement for team donni and this time designer Alyssa was able to come for the ride. 

Crafting the booth at Coterie took no time at all, with the design from PROJECT being a great template, but Alyssa put her artistic gift to good use and helped ensure a perfect look.  The new scarves are so soft, 100% cashmere at a linen weight for the summer.  Exciting!

As Coterie came to a close, team donni wrapped up sales and important business connections.  With another 4 quick days behind them, team donni flew home to relax and get back to business as usual.  Team donni is looking forward to an exciting summer season and know you are too!  We know you will love our new collection as much as we do…..

xo team donni

It’s that time of year again; when girls wonder what their sweetheart will get them and guys have no idea what’s right. Well this year, we have the perfect solution for you! Give the special one in your life a donni charm scarf in one of our several different pink tones.

Not a fan of pink? No problem! Check out our amazing scarves we offer with heart charms! These hot scarves will keep your loves heart even closer to yours!

(Spring 2010 heart charm scarves: donni forever grey, donni forever coral, donni tie crème, donni charm grey.  Fall 2010 heart charm scarves: donni keepsake charcoal, donni forever touch oatmeal)

There is one thing for sure this Valentines day; the best way to keep your loved one trendy and smiling this season is a donni charm scarf.  Check out our shop page for all our collections and styles.

Love is a rare and splendid thing so make sure you let your loved one know.  We wish you a happy valentines day…..

xo team donni

beauty calls

shoot location

Alyssa sets up

donni charm takes over

for the love of acid wash…

taking care of business

our new line brought big smiles

take one and done, such a natural!

spring 2011 makes its TV debut

the leaders of dc west

the end to a great day!

There is never a dull moment for the girls of donni charm and this past week was no exception.  Last friday, team donni members alyssa, dana and joey flew out to los angeles to shoot a clip for LXTV’s first look on NBC.

After landing in la, team donni headed to barney’s for makeup worthy of the bright lights of television.  Next stop, madison beverly hills, the perfect boutique to show off our new spring line!

Once inside, the ladies set to work designing the perfect display of donni charm.  Our new spring scarves are so bright and colorful they make the whole place shine!  Even our models, hannah malan and alyssa nelson can’t stop smiling!

The filming finally begins and because alyssa is such a pro, it doesn’t take long.  The news crew filmed our models too, rocking our exciting spring tanks and tees.   After the shoot is over, team donni poses for a few more photos and prepares to return home.

The LXTV first look clip will be aired on february 5^th so look for our favorite girls on television soon! We hope you enjoy this behind the scenes look at an exciting day for us.

xo team donni

Man’s best friend is a perfect match for the donni fly…

7am hair and makeup, where’s the coffee?

team donni’s creative minds hard at work

attention to detail leads to perfection

having fun while hard at work

a gathering of the minds…

That’s a wrap!

Spring is in the air, or at least in Tucson, Arizona. This past week, the girls of donni charm were hard at work preparing for our latest photo shoot.  Of course we had to offer you a preview.

The process began a few months back when team donni students Alyssa Wasko, Dana Constantino and Alisha Segal held a campus wide model search at the University of Arizona, where they attend school. Hand picked, students and models Cammy West and Ariel Theraube, had the look the creative team was seeking.

The photo shoot started at 7am with hair and makeup at Toni and Guy’s Salon.  Make up artist Stefanie Hernandez dolled up our ladies and prepared them for a full day.   Once they were done here, came the real work….

From styling the scarves to positioning the models, stylist Kelsey Lenihan, guru Dana Constantino and designer Alyssa worked hard on making this the most appealing collection yet.  With an urban jungle theme in mind, team donni chose 4^th avenue in Tucson as their canvass.

Photographer and senior at University of Arizona, Alisha Segal, clicked away until perfection had been reached.  With a long day behind them, team donni celebrated a successful shoot.  The spring line will be available for pre-sale on February 3^rd.

Due to the recent tragedy in Tucson, a portion of the proceeds from our spring collection will be donated to the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Fund.  Zimmerman was a Congressional aid and board member at Child and Family Resources in Tucson.  The memorial fund set up in his name goes to benefit the children and families that he was dedicated to.

xo team donni