'The ten pieces I designed in the 80s are as relevant now as they were when I first came up with them,' affirmed , at the launch of her in-store boutique at Harvey Nichols last night.

'Every woman needs a jersey body, a pair of skinny trousers that make her feel great; the perfect skirt and a party dress that can take her anywhere. If she's got them in black, then she's made.'

And what of the other pieces? They were out in force at the designer's fashion show. Scarf, gown, shirt, skirt; all were present and correct at the show, an occasion to celebrate the opening of her boutique in Harvey Nichols, and her first time back in London in five years.

'I am going to walk the streets and just take it all in,' she mused, 'I'm even going to head up on that gigantic Ferris wheel of yours.'

The New York designer (who we can confirm has an accent as thick as they come) was celebrating her visit with a glamazonian coterie of friends that included Irina Lazareaneau, Victoria Pendleton and Yasmin le Bon who was a vision in monochrome.

'So you wouldn't guess I got dressed down a dodgy side street?' quizzed the supermodel. 'One of these days someone is going to invent the car that you fling yourself into and roll out fully dressed and fabulous. Isn't that what limousines are for?'

But Donna Karan has slightly more conventional methods of becoming party-fabulous, and that includes having the perfect party dress. ‘A good party dress is one that talks about you. It’s only worth wearing if you come out bigger than the dress. You’re the main event after all, the dress is just the supporting act.’

We’ll be making that our credo for this party season ahead.