For my 40th anniversary collection, I was really thinking about the joy in getting dressed up and stepping out for a night on the town,” says Michael Kors. “Whether you’re going to the office, having a casual dinner in the neighbourhood or are in fact ready to go to a party again, this collection is all about making every moment a special occasion and feeling confident, glamorous and upbeat.” Through a montage fashioned on a night out at New York City’s theatre district, Kors paid tribute to Broadway as he recently showcased his iconic eponymous brand’s Fall/Winter 2021 ready-to-wear collection — and announced a fundraiser for the Actor’s Fund.
In a Covid-free world, the night that should have been a starry one with a packed FROW was instead enjoyed remotely. But the self-pronounced theatre geek more than made up for it with a glam collection that had the likes of runway icons like Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Carolyn Murphy and Shalom Harlow walking on an empty NYC street and eventually into Shubert Theatre as they swayed, albeit socially distanced, to Rufus Wainwright.
The collection in itself was a study in classic glamour, a la MK style, with impeccable tailoring across work-wear to glitzy evening wear as Kors made a case for a thriving post-pandemic social life. “Stepping out… timeless glamour… polished, urbane luxury.… big city neutrals of black, white, ivory, smoke, charcoal, midnight and camel… splashes of bold scarlet, metallic silver, shimmering gunmetal and the gleam of gold… menswear patterns… sharp pinstripes, houndstooth and glen plaids… bold zebra and graphic leopard… head-to-toe monochromatic dressing… the tailored coat and matching leggy dress… the shrunken mini suit… the oversized puffer coat… the gloss of plongé leather… cozy city shearlings and glamorous trenches… lean trouser suits… boot-length skirts with leg-revealing slashes… luxe cashmeres and hand-finished double face tailoring… sleek black-tie glamour… tuxedo dressing reimagined… the sheen of paillettes and mirrored embroidery... the shimmer of diamonds in pared-down shapes… the dramatic evening coat… structured clutches and minaudieres... streamlined shoes and boots… fast-paced days and opening nights... opulent simplicity” — read the stream-of-consciousness-like post-show notes from the designer, who was seen joining Wainwright on stage for the curtain call. The collection included 16 looks from the archives that had QR codes to tell their stories as what is an anniversary without some nostalgia?
As the credits rolled to Billy Joel’s iconic New York State of Mind, one could not resist being sold on the idea of Kors’s post-pandemic ballyhoo with sartorial aplomb for when the dust finally settles on this.
Pictures: Courtesy of Michael Kors
