Tired after six years of flying back and forth from New York to Paris as designer for Celine. Finally Kors has resigned from this fashion house, severing his ties with LVMH Moet Henessy Louis Vuitton group, and now focuses on designing clothes as well as looking after his fragrance, footwear, accessories and eyewear under his name. And of course, his designer brand, Michael Michael Kors.
So much flying has given Kors a new source of inspiration – paparazzi images of celebrities disembarking from jets with nonchalant chic, from Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner to Kate Moss and Johnny Depp.
He found these "the most compelling celebrity images – shots of paparazzi princes and princesses at the airport – they’re eclectic but so chic . . . The number one thing for me was Ron Galella. Nothing could be more glamorous than the life he captured."
Kors even bought seven of Galella’s photos – including those of Goldie Hawn, Robert Robert and a windswept Jackie O – at $2,000 each – and put these at the entrance to Michael Kors Inc.
Huge scarves a la Ali MacGraw, beaded gowns, paisley dresses for rich hippies, Julie Christie in shrunken sweaters and Warren Beatty tying his scarf – Kors saw a parallel to modern-day celebs from Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt to Kate Hudson and Chris Robinson.
"Sometimes we designers invent the past again, and it has no relevance. But when you flip from then and now, that moment (captured in Galella’s photos) really relates to today. It’s a rare thing when something retro seems so modern. If you skip the Eighties and pick up again with the Nineties, you see the return of the indulgent bohemians," he told Eric Wilson of WWD magazine.
His latest shoe collection reflects Michael Kors’ declaration: "People want to be comfortable and relaxed and sexy at the same time."
Comfy, relaxed and sexy indeed are his shoes – slides, wedges and lace-up sandals. The collection ranges from retro, with satin T-strap wedges and suede cork platforms to edgy, with lace-up stilettos and Lucite heels.
Michael Kors’ shoes are now available in the Philippines at MIX, Greenbelt 3, Makati. – Millet Mananquil