Michael Kors is a billionaire — or close to it — so it makes sense that he believes in investment dressing, albeit with a romantic touch. The 54-year-old designer, who is worth at least $950 million since his company went public in late 2011, has built an empire based on creating good-looking and aspirational American sportswear.
His spring 2014 collection, which he debuted in New York before an audience that included Katie Holmes and Kate Mara, features classic clothing — crisp blazers, slouchy gabardine trousers, striped silk blouses, linen dresses and sensible trenches — that will look as good five years from now as it does today.
"If Katharine Hepburn and Lauren Hutton had a baby, this would be their love child," said Kors about his collection.
Backstage afterward, he was quick with a quip, just as he always was on Project Runway, telling a USA Today reporter about his collection. "If Katharine Hepburn and Lauren Hutton had a baby, this would be their love child," he said.
Amid the impeccably tailored traditional pieces, Kors added his own twist. Some skirts featured two slits in the front to show a little more leg, a "flirt skirt" and cap-sleeve T-shirt were crafted from python, hand-embroidered daisies dotted a high-waisted bikini, and raffia hand-embroidered flowers added pizzazz to a linen dress.
As a line-up of famous models — Joan Smalls, Karolina Kurkova, Carmen Kass, Karlie Kloss, Hilary Rhoda and Karen Elson — walked the runway, Bette Midler's sensual version of "Do You Wanna Dance?" and Mama Cass Elliott's "Dream A Little Dream of Me" wafted though the loudspeakers, providing an appropriate soundtrack.
In a green-and-white vine-printed halter gown, with a white Chesterfield coat loosely over her shoulders, Elson closed the show with a smile. She looked like a happy woman at the end of a great formal evening with her guy.
But what was he wearing? We're not sure. Kors' runway collection usually shows quite a bit of men's clothing, but this time only five of the 56 looks were aimed at men.
Michael Kors chambray cashmere cotton cardigan, batik lace bandeau and dance skirt.
