Michael Kors Marks a 45th Anniversary With a Love Letter to New York Glamour

A runway tied to New York

Kors recalls his 2021 40th anniversary runway show as a step toward a long-held dream. Covid restrictions prevented audiences from watching in person, but Naomi Campbell and Bella Hadid walked through New York’s Theater District.

He said he believed the city would recover after shutdowns. Kors now sees life in New York as having returned with renewed force.

Why live performance matters

Kors chose performance spaces deliberately, reflecting his interest in the arts and in how movement connects fashion and live shows. He says clothing loses some of its impact when seen only as a still image.

The idea informed the brand’s 45th anniversary collection. Kors also worries that support for the arts is faltering, and says experiences shared in person can help people disconnect from daily pressures.

The city’s style contrasts

Kors describes New York as a continuing source of inspiration, with a fashion culture shaped by opposing impulses. He compares its mix of tastes to potato chips with caviar, balancing function against glamour. That tension, he says, keeps clothes useful without making them dull or too formal for everyday life. The brand’s first runway collection, shown in 1984, was described by WWD as “haute, classic streetwear” and “elegant but minimal.”

A lasting design instinct

Kors says he still follows the approach he had when he began, even as culture and fashion have changed substantially. He points to the difference between casual clothes in the 1980s and today, noting that jeans did not stretch when he started.

His own ambition took shape at Studio 54, where he went instead of attending his high school prom. Watching people move in their clothes and express confidence helped him decide to become a fashion designer.

Kors remembers the disco as a place where people from different backgrounds came together. Through his designs and runway shows, he aims to celebrate comfort, beauty, theatricality and the experience of living among others.