fashionologie

Ann Taylor Taps Kate Hudson, Miuccia Prada Takes It Back, Mickey Drexler Doesn't Like Malls - and More

Christina Perez — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:37:23 PST

Kate Hudson is the new face of Ann Taylor. [Fashion Foie Gras]

Andrea Linett has joined Michael Kors as the new global creative director. [Daily Front Row]

Miuccia Prada says her quote about the Met exhibit was taken out of context. [Fashionista]

Mickey Drexler isn't crazy about shopping malls. [Lucky]

The Spring 2012 nail colors from Butter London have arrived. [Racked]

Miranda Kerr celebrates baby Flynn's first birthday. [People]

Kate Bosworth and Cher Coulter are launching a denim line. [Stylecaster]

Photo: WWD

Michael Kors Pre-Fall 2012

fashionologie — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:43:00 PST

>> Michael Kors went West for Pre-Spring 2012 - literally, picking up his inspiration while on a trip to Phoenix. Ann Bonfoey Taylor, the American socialite-cum-Olympic skier who served as that inspiration - she was just the subject of an exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum - represented "Nan Kempner on the range" to Kors, the designer explained. Turquoise and crimson pop up amongst the primarily black and white collection, which boasts harness detailing on everything from bags to dress straps.

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This Week's Best Dressed

fashionologie — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:34:06 PST

>> It's a week of double-timers: two Haider Ackermann looks, two Calvin Klein looks, and one model who appears twice. See who's wearing what - and where - in the slideshow.

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Smoldering Stares and Safaris - Backstage at Proenza Schouler, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Michael Kors, and Anna Sui

fashionologie — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:16:34 PDT

>> Energy was still high backstage on the second-to-last day of New York Fashion Week. Lindsey Wixson did a Lolita impression at Anna Sui (left); Frida Gustavsson pulled off a Marilyn Monroe moment in her leopard and feather dress at Michael Kors; and everyone gave their best smoldering stare backstage at Proenza Schouler. See those snaps - and more from backstage at 3.1 Phillip Lim and Anna Sui - in the slideshow.

Photo: Greg Kessler

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Michael Kors Spring 2012

Christina Perez — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:22:41 PDT

>> The Lebombo Lodge in South Africa, "an easy laid-back attitude", something called "Afriluxe" - these were the touch points for Michael Kors Spring 2012 collection. And so, out came staples fit for a Sub-Saharan getaway: utility dresses, breezy caftans, cargo trenches, relaxed ponchos. Kors stuck to the safari theme with colors and fabrics as well: taupes and olives in washed-clay poplin and distressed cashmere, with some zebra prints and python skins for good measure. If Kors likes a safari, he especially likes a modern one; he kept his silhouettes neat without a hint of roughing-it in sight.

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Diane von Furstenberg, CFDA Recommend Carding Models for Age; Michael Kors on Models Under 16

fashionologie — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:08 PDT

>> Just before last season, CFDA president Diane von Furstenberg encouraged designers to forego hiring models under 16; however, after her show last season, von Furstenberg discovered that she had hired 15-year-old Hailey Clauson to walk, and subsequently issued an apology.

This season, von Furstenberg and the CFDA are taking preventative measures further, recommending that models produce a valid ID on the show day, ensuring that they are a minimum of 16 years old. “The casting agents for the Diane von Furstenberg show will be doing this and we encourage others to do the same,” the letter which von Furstenberg and CFDA CEO Steven Kolb sent out yesterday, stated. It also noted that all top model agencies had pledged not to send models under 16 for shows.

Von Furstenberg is not the only major New York designer who has had issues with model-age confusion. Michael Kors tells Lauren Hutton in the new issue of Interview: "I still think it’s weird when models come in on go-sees. I don’t understand how anyone can think that a model is a mannequin. I like to think of them as just women ... When they come in, I’m always like, 'Where are you from? Tell me about your life.' That’s the first thing I say. We were laughing, though, because two seasons ago, I said, 'You know what? These girls we’re seeing are too young. They are children.' It’s silly ... I said two years ago, 'No models under 16.' Well, of course, right after I said that, we started seeing all of these girls from Eastern Europe, and every girl who’d walk in, you’d say, 'Hi. What’s your name?' And she’d be like, 'I’m Svetlana.' I’m like, 'Svetlana, where are you from?' 'Ukraine.' 'Svetlana, how old are you?' '16.' Next girl walks in - she’s from Eastern Europe and 16. Next one? Eastern European and 16. I was like, 'Was there a bus?' But I still think it’s a tricky thing because no matter how beautiful you might be at 15 or 16, the simple truth is that you haven’t lived enough to really know how to project anything in a photograph. It’s like a kind of blank beauty."

Michael Kors Is Married

fashionologie — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:18:42 PDT

>> After applying for and receiving a marriage license two weeks ago, Michael Kors and his longtime boyfriend, Lance LePere, tied the knot yesterday in Southampton, New York. The private ceremony was officiated by Southampton Mayor Mark Epley on Dune Beach. "To marry someone as wonderful and special to me as Lance barefoot on a glorious beach is more than I could have dreamed of,” Kors said. No details on the honeymoon destination, however. [WWD]

Michael Kors, Brian Atwood Are Both Getting Married

fashionologie — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:02:04 PDT

>> Earlier today, Brian Atwood celebrated his birthday by getting engaged to boyfriend Dr. Jake Deutsch - he posted a picture on Twitter with the caption, "Just engaged."

Atwood is not the only designer heading for a wedding, now that gay marriage is legal in New York state. Michael Kors and longtime boyfriend Lance LePere, who first met in 1990 when LePere was a Kors intern (he's now a creative director at the label), applied for and received their marriage license yesterday at the Manhattan City Clerk's office. “Lance and I are very excited to finally be able to have the opportunity to marry in our home state after many years together,” said Kors. “We have no plans for a major party, but we will be getting married privately.”

See the Debut Michael Kors Jewelry Collection

fashionologie — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:05:00 PDT

>> For Fall 2011, Michael Kors teamed up with Fossil - which has produced his watch line since 2004 - to launch his jewelry collection. The chain and buckle-centric line of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings hits stores in August and runs $45 to $395. "I’ve always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman’s outfit," Kors says. "Now, with my jewelry collection, I can deliver the full spectrum of the Michael Kors vision for a truly fabulous look."

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Tommy Hilfiger to Invest in Michael Kors?

fashionologie — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:30:16 PDT

>> Tommy Hilfiger is said to be among those planning to privately invest in Michael Kors, WWD reports. Kors is reportedly seeking as much as $500 million to fund its global expansion plans, and hired Morgan Stanley to sell an equity stake of approximately 25 percent. The round of financing has since closed and is expected to be finalized next month.

Hilfiger, who put money into Belstaff earlier this month, declined to comment on whether he would invest in Kors, too, but did say: “Anybody would be crazy not to invest in it. Michael Kors is the next major global player in my eyes.”

If Hilfiger were to participate in this new round of funding for Kors, he would be joining his previous investment partners Joel Horowitz, Silas Chou, and Lawrence Stroll, all of whom were the original investors in Tommy Hilfiger (The latter two, Chou and Stroll, bought Michael Kors in 2003 for a reported $100 million.). “For over 20 years, we’ve invested in things together," Hilfiger noted. "If they ask me, of course I’ll invest [in Kors]."

Kors, which generates about $900 million in volume, is expected to do private placement funding followed by an initial public offering right away; some are estimating the company could be valued at over $2 billion. This strategy is notable because there hasn't been an American designer IPO in some time - Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren did theirs in the late '90s. More recently, brands have typically been bought up by larger players or conglomerates.