He's a survivor

Michael Kors prepares for the apocalypse with chic battle-ready collection

When the apocalypse comes, I want to be around Michael Kors. Because when the end of the world is approaching, you want to look super chic, and Kors has everything for the occasion.

Even though things are going really well for the designer — his company reported record profits on Tuesday — Kors is in survival mode.

His fall 2013 collection, unveiled at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Wednesday, features mink stoles, jackets and trousers in camouflage patterns of white, black and blue. Coats come in traffic-stopping colors of taxicab yellow, safety orange and stoplight red. Perforated skirts and pullovers of rubberized fabric are meant for urban animals.

What to wear to outrun the zombies? Why, a pair of bright yellow track pants with black leather tuxedo stripe, of course.

And what to wear to outrun the zombies? Why, a pair of bright yellow track pants with black leather tuxedo stripe, of course.

Instead of full-on evening gowns, the collection features short peplum skirts in shades of neon orange and royal blue with long trains. So what if they look a little Atlantic City-cocktail waitressy? They make a statement.

Surviving Superstorm Sandy last fall apparently got Kors thinking about survival — in a chic way — just as he was planning the collection in a city that was half cast in darkness. According to his program notes, the result is "urban athleticism meets uptown polish ... an attitude basked on speed, endurance and glamour."

The only real glitter came from a crystal peplum gown with train that model-of-the-moment Karlie Kloss wore to close the show, yet the collection has a lot of flash. And because it has Kors' name on it, fabrics are luxe. Just the name "cashgora" — a fabric that combines cashmere and angora — sounds rich.

At the end of the show, when Kors took his victory lap past a celebrity row that included Jada Pinkett Smith and daughter Willow Smith, Michael Douglas, Zoe Saldana, and Hilary Swank, his walk practically became a jog.

He's clearly a man in a hurry — and it doesn't look like he's going to slow down anytime soon — apocalypse or not.

Michaek Kors oive white camo mink stole, black merino pullover and black cashgora zip skirt

Photo courtesy of Michael Kors

Michaek Kors oive white camo mink stole, black merino pullover and black cashgora zip skirt

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Holiday shopping

New giant Quge-tip from Dallas-based Q-tip sells out in 24 hours

Q-Tip

Q-tip's Quge-tip

A giant version of an everyday product has sold out in 24 hours: Called the Quge-tip, it's a 6-foot version of the iconic Q-tip, the beauty staple that's been around for more than a century.

Measuring nearly six feet from tip to tip, Quge-tips feature enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design.

The Quge-tip was released on December 9 and sold exclusively online in limited quantities for $35. Alas, according to a spokesperson for Dallas-based Elida Beauty, the parent company of Q-tip, the product flew off the virtual shelf.

"Now that they’re sold out, Q-tips is surprising fans with social giveaways," the spokesperson says.

The Quge-tip is one of two products just released by Dallas companies — both of which feel like they could be April Fools Day jokes — except that both are for real.

Dave & Buster's Claw PurseD&B

Dave & Buster's Claw Purse
The Dallas-based eatertainment chain is leveling up holiday gifting with the debut of the Claw Purse, a limited-edition purse designed by Chain. The Claw Purse is inspired by one of the brand's most iconic games — the claw machine — and according to a release, is "the season's most unexpected fashion statement" for anyone who loves bold style, nostalgia, and a little bit of play.

To mark a milestone for the brand, the Claw Purse launches alongside the expansion of Dave & Buster's Human Crane, a viral, full-body game experience that turns guests into the claw — where they are lowered down into a bin of huge prizes to grab whatever they choose.

Beginning in December 2025, the Human Crane will appear in over 112 Dave & Buster's locations with additional stores rolling out nationwide throughout the season.

But back to the purse: It made its debut at Chain's Holiday House, an event at the company's HQ in L.A., where "it quickly became a crowd favorite among creators, stylists, and culture icons," or so says the release. Which also calls this "the first creative collaboration" between Dave & Buster's and Chain, bringing together Dave & Buster's beloved gameplay with Chain's signature culture-forward point of view. So maybe there will be more collaborations in the future.

Q-tip's Qugetip Q-tip's Quge-tipQ-tip

Q-tips Quge-tips
The Quge-tip is a nearly six-foot supersized version of the "iconic" Q-tip cotton swab, first invented in 1923 and the go-to for beauty, baby care, first aid, cleaning, and everyday moments that call for a gentle, precise touch.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale, designed as a playful, oversized tribute.

The release nots that Quge-tips tap into a rising trend of consumers using Q-tips swabs for alternative tasks, which now make up a meaningful share of cotton swab use: From dusting high shelves and cleaning hard-to-reach corners to large-scale art projects.

The six-foot Quge-tip features enlarged swabs and a sturdy stick modeled after the original Q-tips swabs design — offering a new way to experience an iconic tool at a dramatically large scale.

The company insists it's a real thing — they do a very funny video mocking late-night ads for cheap products — and that after debuting at qugetips.com on December 9, they sold out of their initial run. One note: They do not reveal how many Quge-tips were sold. It could just be, like 10 that were for sale.

There's a chance they'll be doing another issue, and they encourage interested shoppers to diligently follow their social media.

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