By Frank de Jesus
Long before I became a magazine editor in New York, I worked as a production assistant backstage at fashion shows in New York. Though every show was an event, those that I looked forward to most were the glamorous jet set-themed productions from the always-effervescent Michael Kors. Specifically it was the stage directions, always printed in large block letters with the fine point of a sharpie that hung next to the exit to the runway. The words had a transportive allure and ensured the models knew exactly how to carry the glam. For fall 2013 they read, “You are fast-paced, athletic, and chic. You race all over from the Lower East to the Upper East Side… Make them die with envy!” A rallying cry for American women, and the brand personified to perfection.
Born Karl Anderson Jr. (he changed his name at five years old when his mother remarried), Kors has taken his namesake company to dizzying heights in the last 32 years. In 1981 at the age of 22, Michael Kors was launched in high-end department stores including Bergdorf Goodman and Lord & Taylor. Kors’ collection of luxe sportswear became a favourite of New York socialites and the ladies of the jet set. He became known for his witty and stylish take on clothes that thematically reflect the locales frequented by the rich and stylish — Palm Beach, Saint Tropez and Aspen. In 1997, Kors was named the first ever women’s ready-to-wear designer and creative director for the French fashion house Celine. In his time there, he reinvigorated the fashion house with successful accessories and a critically acclaimed ready-to-wear line.
Upon leaving Celine in 2003, Kors brought a newfound enthusiasm to his own house. In 2004 the MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors lines were launched in addition to the Michael Kors runway collection, the same year the designer entered living rooms around the world as a judge on Project Runway.
Today, Kors is a household name and a go-to line for women looking to live the luxe life in a way that suits their personalities, and their pocketbooks.
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