“My go-to style is inspired by Japanese fashion, particularly Comme des Garçons or Yohji Yamamoto,” she expressed. “I am captivated by the simplicity, craftsmanship, and tailored designs of Japanese clothing. It has influenced every aspect of my work, from the elegance of a bow to the concept of a belt.” Adorning her neck was a rope necklace adorned with various small wooden objects. “They are African weaving tools,” she clarified, “they possess great energy.”
Ms. Zakowska’s commitment to research is evident in her extensive collection of fashion history books and the colossal mood boards adorned with vintage magazine cutouts, fabric samples, and photographs. Some walls in her studio are completely covered in her costume sketches, reaching from the floor to the ceiling.
While her official profession is costume designer, it may be more fitting to refer to her as a “world creator,” given her talent for bringing characters, history, places, and stories to life through vivid and meticulously crafted fashion. She herself seems to inhabit a liminal space, straddling the present and past eras that she breathes life into on stage and screen, amidst the multitude of characters she animates, and in the many art forms she has mastered. Her life has been immersed in nearly every aspect of performance and design.
Following her graduation from Barnard College, she embarked on her career as a professional dancer, honing her skills in Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey techniques in New York, as well as Balinese dance in Indonesia. She then pursued painting and drawing at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, subsequently attending the Yale School of Drama in the mid-1980s, specializing in costume, lighting, and set design.
Throughout her journey, she had the opportunity to work as an assistant to Woody Allen, costume the Big Apple Circus for a span of nine years, collaborate and tour with the esteemed puppet artist and director Roman Paska, her life partner whom she met in college. Additionally, she has consistently contributed to theater and film, forging numerous partnerships with John Turturro, her dear friend and former Yale roommate. “Working with Donna always elevates my performance,” expressed Mr. Turturro.
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