New York Fashion Week: Michael Kors at 30

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A who’s who of New York turned out for Michael Kors anniversary show. There was the Hollywood contingent (Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Emma Roberts); the Broadway contingent (Bette Midler) and the socialite contingent (Aerin Lauder, Marjorie Gubelmann).

On the show invitation, there was a funny photo of the designer, back when his hair was long and lustrous. But that was the extent of the reminiscing. Kors is secure enough with his place in the industry that he doesn’t need a step-and-repeat photo op or a sizzle reel.

But the collection he showed was a perfect example of the confidence that comes from working hard and staying true to yourself for three decades.

The clothes were all about sporty decadence, with the strictest of lines. ‘Polished, yet easy,’ read the show notes.

For Kors, there must be 100 shades of neutral, and a lot of them were in this collection. A blush-colored knitted fox fur bathrobe coat, worn over a blush silk charmeuse blouse and gabardine trousers, with a sleek silver collar, was textbook Kors elegance. While the ginormous fur crossbody bag, worn over a ‘suntan’ turtleneck sweater as thick as a winter blanket, and matching silk charmeuse pajama pants, showed the designer’s tongue-in-cheek approach to luxury.

Speaking of suntans, skirts were designed with slits high enough to show off a toned and tanned thigh. A black viscose bodysuit (they’re baaack!) worn with a wide belt over a long black slit-front pleated georgette skirt was a hot look.

As for trends, well, after 30 years, you don’t much need ‘em. But the monochrome dressing seen at Kors has been all over the runways this week, as has the dress over pants look. One of Kors’ best versions involved a nude crystal georgette toga worn over matching pajama pants.

Or you could be your own Wonder Woman and stop traffic in a billowy crimson toga gown with a hammered silver collar.

Something tells me Kors would like nothing more.

Michael Kors fall-winter 2011 runway collection photo gallery

--Booth Moore in New York