Michael Kors: Optimism on an otherwise somber day

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Sep 11, 2019

"Positivity and optimism… Blue skies ahead… Spring 2020," enthused Michael Kors, whose show in the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Wednesday morning was illuminated by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City.

 
On the 18th anniversary of 9/11, Kors’ call for inclusion and affirmation seemed to hit the right note. From the front door of the Duggal Greenhouse, where the show was staged, one could see the One World Trade Center across the East River.
 
Inside, the brilliant troupe of some 60 singers performed classic upbeat tunes like America by Simon & Garfunkel and Beyond The Sea by Charles Trenet.

Underscoring Kors’ theme of inclusiveness, their lustiest singing was reserved for Woody Guthrie’s This Land is Your Land, in a coed show whose first male model wore a knitted pullover where the word "Hate" was crossed out.

There was something for everybody in Kors’ world, which was peopled by a multi-ethnic cast, from the opening gabardine cutaway trenches and blazers with cantilever shoulders, to the beautifully cut track pants with star-studded trim and cool knits decorated with tony metal anchors. 
 
His tailoring was spot on – either preppy wide-lapel cricket blazers or several superb safari jackets, again finished with stars. Plus his finale of a quintet of slinky crepe-sablé gowns had oodles of red carpet cred. 
 

Michael even had a natty new Courtney shoulder bag cut like a Wild West water canteen, and a clever tote with porthole grommets. 
 
Though his smartest trick was mingling so many juxtaposed elements like posh punk with urbane uptown, or romanticism with military jackets. 
 
Taking his full-length march – or dash – around the U-shaped runway, Kors garnered a huge cheer. The king of American sportswear pulled off another consummately clever show and collection, before the audience of 800 exited into the sunlight. Half of them returning to Manhattan on hefty high-speed water taxis – smiles on everyone’s faces.