Michael Kors

Michael Kors' all-American collections are a byword for uptown chic. Launched in 1981, Kors' eponymous brand of luxe tailored sportswear instantly caught the attention of press and buyers alike and has retained stellar status ever since. 'For me, fashion consists above all of clothing that women really want to wear,' says Kors - and his feminine, easy-to-wear pieces in a soft neutral palette are a testament to this philosophy. 

Born in long Island, New York and the son of Joan Hamburger, a former model He grew up in Merrick, New York and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York.

Michael Kors began designing clothes at the age of 19 and studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of technology in New York City. In 1981, Kors launched the Michael Kors womenswear line at Bloomingdale, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Building on his success, Kors was named the first ever women's ready-to-wear designer and creative director for the French fashion house Celine in 1997. In his tenure at Celine, Kors turned the fashion house around with blockbuster accessories and a critically acclaimed ready-to-wear line. Kors left Celine in October 2003 to concentrate on his own brand. Kors launched his menswear line in 2002. 

In 2010, Kors received the Oliver R. Grace Award for Distinguished Service in Advancing Cancer Research.  For his 2009 Fall collection, he was inspired by real life and tailoring was a focus. As if to prove that he can sniff out a trend, the designer tossed in a few jackets of the sort that have been making the rounds this week—some short-sleeved with squared-off, tucked shoulders; others with cutouts around the lapels. But Kors was at his strongest when he was thinking sleek: elongating, stretch gabardine cigarette trousers; a pantsuit almost as narrow as the chalk stripes on its charcoal flannel; double-face peacoats and balmacaans.

In a nod to the prevailing mood, he skipped long dresses entirely, favoring knee-grazing, one-shoulder numbers in matte sequins. 

Kors also thumbed his nose at the global gods

 of finance, whipping up shredded fox jackets 

and coats in neon pink, caution orange, and 

acid green.

http://www.michaelkors.com/