Island Michael Kors

Background:

“If you go into a fitting room to try something on and can't think of more than a few situations when you would actually wear the item, it's not worth the money. Find the less expensive version.” Michael Kors

Entering the fashion industry in 1978, Long Island native Michael Kors has made a name for himself as one of the top fashion designers in the world. As the women's ready-to-wear designer and creative director for Celine, he helped the French fashion house rise to success. After 6 years, he left Celine in 2003 to concentrate on his own brand. Under his collection labels, Kors has launched women's and men's ready-to-wear, accessories, men's tailored clothing, neckwear, dress shirts, timepieces for men and women, fragrances for women and men, and other designs. Popular among celebrities, his fashions have been worn by actresses like Jessica Simpson, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Sharon Stone, Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow. Kors also appeared as a judge on the reality show “Project Runway” (2004-2008).

Accomplished Kors has amassed many awards. He was handed the DuPont’s first American Original Award in 1983 and the Elle/Cadillac Fashion Award in 1995. In 1999, he received the CFDA Award for Women’s Wear Designer of the Year, the most celebrated award in the fashion industry, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Lighthouse International. The same year, he also netted the Golden Hanger Award for Best Designer. His latest fragrance, “Island Michael Kors,” won the 2006 Fifi Award in the category of Best Bath and Body Collection.

Kors currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Council of Fashion Designers of America. He is an active advocate for gay rights.

Long Island

Childhood and Family:

“When I was growing up, I had a fascination with things French. I was 12 and I was dreaming of going to Paris.” Michael Kors

Michael Kors was born Karl Anderson, Jr. on August 9, 1959, in Long Island, New York, to Joan Krystosek Kors, a former model for Revlon. He studied fashion design at The Fashion Institute of Technology.

Currently, Michael lives in New York City and Paris. He is openly gay.

Project Runway

Career:

“I am the oldest young designer in New York City.” Michael Kors

19-year-old Michael Kors kicked off his career in fashion working for the celebrated boutique Lothar’s in New York City. Lured by the success of his designs, he launched the Michael Kors label in 1981 and sold his first women's collection in such stores as Lord & Taylor, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

1995 saw Kors launch Kors Michael Kors, whose designs were manufactured and distributed by Onward Kashiyama, USA, which is part of Onward Kashiyama, in Japan. Within six years, the collection had surpassed all planned sales figures worldwide.

Kors' career gained a crucial boast in 1997 when he was appointed the first women's ready-to-wear designer for the French fashion house Celine. Fall/Winter ’98, his first collection for the house, was released to critical praise and by February 1999, Kors had moved on to become creative director for Celine. In this capacity, he was responsible for managing all the women’s products and creative imaging. Kors would stay with Celine for the next four years. He quit in October 2003 to focus on his own brand.

In September 2000, nearly a year after Michael Kors, LLC signed an exclusive licensing contract with Parfums Givenchy Inc. to make, circulate and trade fragrance and body products for the fashion house, the women’s fragrance “Michael Kors” was released. The fragrance line was a huge success and a men's fragrance collection followed in September 2001.

After fragrance, Mr. Kors added accessories to his endeavors. In the spring of 2001, he launched accessories under his collection label, which included handbags, small leather goods, shoes, and a full range of eyewear. In early January 2002, a full-scaled menswear line was launched.

Kors launched the MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors lines in 2004. The MICHAEL line consists of such accessories as women's handbags, shoes and belts, women's ready-to-wear and swimwear. The KORS line comprises of footwear. In spring 2005, Michael Kors launched the award winning fragrance “Island Michael Kors,” which netted a Fifi award for Best Bath and Body Collection in 2006. Kors has also opened boutiques in various places, including New York, Beverly Hills and Las Vegas. International boutiques are located in London, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Tokyo, to name a few.

The recipient of the esteemed CFDA Award has dressed numerous celebrities. Joan Allen wore his designs when she received a nomination at the Oscars for Best Actress for her role in “The Contender.” Additionally, Jennifer Garner wore a gown of Kors when she hosted the 2006 Academy Awards. During his tenure with Celine, Kors designed several outfits for actresses to wear on screen, among them Gwyneth Paltrow in “Possession,” Rene Russo in “The Thomas Crown Affair” and Cate Blanchett for the movie “Bandits.” Other celebrities who have worn his collection include Sharon Stone, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Lopez, Liv Tyler, Anjelica Huston, Julia Roberts and Sigourney Weaver.

Michael Kors served as a judge on the Bravo TV show “Project Runway” from December 2004 to October 2008. He will also appear as a judge on the reality TV series “Models of the Runway,” hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, which debuted on January 1, 2009.

Awards:

• Lighthouse International: Lifetime Achievement Award, 1999

• CFDA Award: Women’s Wear Designer of the Year, 1999

• New York Award: Fashion, 1999

• Golden Hanger Award: Best Designer, 1999

• Elle/Cadillac Fashion Award: 1995

• DuPont’s American Original Award: 1983