Observe the customer. Talk to the customer. Provide real-life dressing solutions. And don’t live in your own world. American fashion designer. Michael Kors tells. Jeanette Ejlersen in 20 minutes.
Observe the customer.
Talk to the customer.
Provide real-life dressing solutions.
And don’t live in your own world.
American fashion designer.
Michael Kors tells.
Jeanette Ejlersen in 20 minutes.
When Michael Kors meets you, his eyes are on you. In part because he’s a civilised man and it’s rude not to make eye contact. But the gesture goes beyond being courteous. His eyes, even behind his trademark aviators, operate like Iron Man’s suit: they zoom in on the details. What you are wearing. How you’re wearing it. What kind of bag you are carrying. What kind of shoes you have on. What you are pairing them with.
Just as quickly as he mentally slices and dices your fashion choices, collecting data (good and/ or bad), it’s over. But in those few seconds, he has already made notes on what women (or men) like, want, are gravitating towards, what works, what doesn’t.
Kors’ keen sense of observation is one of the three reasons that has helped turn him from a salesperson/visual display artist/merchandiser/ designer at Lothar’s (the trendsetting boutique in New York that attracted Cher, Diana Ross, Farrah Fawcett, Barbra Streisand and Jackie O) at 19 to what he is today: an American success story with a public listed company (since 2011) and more than 400 stores around the world; he opened his two-floor flagship in Singapore at Mandarin Gallery late last year.
His second strong suit: He talks to his customers (he has always emphasised that “the best thing a designer 76 Her World Feb 2017 can do is stand near their merchandise at their store”). And he draws inspiration from these real people with real lives.
“The problem with fashion people is they spend a lot of time with fashion people. And I will tell you this: Fashion people are not optimistic people. They are sad, withdrawn, glass is halffull. I want to be with people who are positive and have a good attitude.”
A lot of these people are working women who are also mothers.
“My oldest friend is a mother of five kids,” says Kors. “A lot of my customers, friends and colleagues are mums. And most women have the same issues. My job is to solve her wardrobe problems, so she has time to deal with other things.”
Some of them are the Hollywood elite, including Goldie Hawn, her daughter Kate Hudson (who came here for his flagship store opening), Blake Lively, Sigourney Weaver and Gwyneth Paltrow. New faces have also joined the Kors “family”: American models Ruby Aldridge and her sister Lily, who is the campaign girl for his latest Wonderlust fragrance.
The third reason for his success is that unlike many designers who struggled with their vision or identity during the start of their career or later on, Kors says he was “fortunate to find his calling early”, when he was 18. That calling now famously known as “the jet set” has been the DNA of his brand since he started it in 1981.
“My grandparents travelled a lot when I was young,” says Kors. “I would hear all their stories, see their pictures. During that time, it was also the start of the paparazzi, and there were pictures of Jackie O, Richard Burton and The Rolling Stones. What struck me then was how you can dress simply, casually, yet still be glamorous.
“The thing is, life hasn’t changed much. People travelled a lot then; people still travel now, even more. We’re always on the go. We’re plugged in 24/7. We’re moving quickly. But at the same time, we don’t want to wear things that are banal and utilitarian. We still want indulgence, we still want glamour, and ‘ jet set’ is the perfect way to sum up how you have both.”
This does not only apply to his customers in America and Europe.
“I always say my favourite customers are the people who are curious about what’s next, what’s new, and who appreciate quality. In Asia, we find that perfect combination. I don’t see a major difference anymore between my customers around the world; we’re all so connected now. If anything, shoppers in Asia are more willing to try new things and discover new brands.”
And that, to Kors , is always a great thing.
From top: Two floors of Michael Kors at Mandarin Gallery. The first stocks MMK women’s ready-to-wear and leather goods, and Michael Kors Collection leather goods. The second houses menswear and www.herworldplus.com accessories.
Designer recommendations for S/S ’ 17
• Structure is back. “Look for jackets with shoulder pads and a dress with structure.”
• A knit dress that can withstand the heat, and hits below the knee. “Think Marilyn Monroe or Sophia Loren.”
• A chain-strapped bag that has movement. “It’s flirty and convertible.”
• “The pieces with 3-D floral embroidery are really special. In our digital world, artisanal, handcrafted pieces feel really luxurious.”
• “The shoes are great. They’re tall but sturdy so you can wear them all day.”
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