Michael Kors

For the company, see Michael Kors (brand).

to get back on his feet by 1997 and launched a lower

priced line and at the same time was named the rstever womens ready-to-wear designer for French house
Celine.[14] In his tenure at Celine, Kors turned the fashion
house around with successful 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.

Michael Kors (born Karl Anderson, Jr.; August 9,

1959)[2] is a New York City-based fashion designer
widely known for designing classic American sportswear
for women. He is Honorary Chairman and Chief Creative
Ocer for his company, Michael Kors Holdings Limited
(KORS), which is popular for its wide variety of high-end
fashion accessories.[3]

Personal life

Kors was born Karl Anderson, Jr.[4] in Long Island,

New York, the son of Joan Hamburger, a former model,
and her rst husband, Karl Anderson, Sr, a college
student.[5][6][7] His mother remarried Bill Kors when he
was ve, and his surname was changed to Kors. His
mother told him that he could choose a new rst name
as well; subsequently he renamed himself Michael David
Kors.[7] He grew up in Merrick, New York and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore,
New York. Kors mother is Jewish and his father was
of Swedish descent.[4][8][9][10] Kors married his husband,
Lance LePere, on August 16, 2011.[1]

Career

Kors had an anity for fashion since he was very young.

His mother thought it might have had to something to do
with the fact that he was exposed to the apparel industry
through her modeling career. Michael even designed his
mothers wedding dress for her second marriage at the age
of ve. As a teen, Kors began designing clothes and selling them out of his parents basement, which he renamed
the Iron Buttery.[11] In 1977, he enrolled at the Fashion
Institute of Technology in New York City.[12] However,
he dropped out after only nine months and took a job
at a boutique across from Bergdorf Goodman on 57th
Street, where he was given a small space to sell his designs. Shortly after, Dawn Mello, the fashion director at
Bergdorf, discovered Kors. She asked if he would show
his collection to Bergdorf Goodmans buyers and he has
had his collection ever since.[13] In 1981, Kors launched
the Michael Kors womenswear line at Bloomingdales,
Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and
Saks Fifth Avenue. A bankruptcy in 1993 forced him
to discontinue the Kors line for a time. He managed

Michelle Obama's rst term ocial portrait

In addition to the Michael Kors runway collection, the

MICHAEL Michael Kors and KORS Michael Kors lines
were launched in 2004. The MICHAEL line includes
womens handbags and shoes as well as womens readyto-wear apparel. The KORS line contains footwear and
Jeans. Currently, Kors has full collection boutiques in
New York, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, Manhasset, and
Chicago. 2011 marked Kors thirtieth year in business.
Among the celebrities who have worn Kors designs are
Jennifer Lopez, Rachel McAdams, Elissa, Heidi Klum,
and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Michelle Obama wore her
black sleeveless dress in her rst term ocial portrait as
1

5 IN POPULAR CULTURE

3 Other honors
In 2013, Michael was selected for The Time 100, the
magazines annual list of the 100 most inuential people
in the world. He also made the New York Observers list
of the 100 Most Inuential New Yorkers, under the fashion category. Kors was honored by The Couture Council
of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
(FIT) with the 2013 Couture Council Award for Artistry
of Fashion. Most recently, Kors was named to Out magazines 2014 Power 50 List. In 2012, Kors was honored
with the Golden Heart Lifetime Achievement Award by
Gods Love We Deliver, a non-prot organization that
distributes fresh meals to people living with HIV/AIDS
and other diagnoses, which he has been involved with for
over 20 years. In 2010, Kors received the Oliver R. Grace
Award for Distinguished Service in Advancing Cancer
Research, an annual honor bestowed by the Cancer Research Institute, a U.S. nonprot organization dedicated
to advancing immune system-based treatments for cancer. In 2010, Kors was the youngest recipient ever of
the Georey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from
the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
and received the Fragrance Foundations FiFi Award for
Lifetime Achievement. In 2007, Kors was honored as
Designer of the Year at Marymount Universitys Portfolio in Motion fashion show.
A dress by Michael Kors, 2010

4 Legal issues
First Lady.[15] Joan Allen wore his gown when she was
nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for
her role in the The Contender. Jennifer Garner wore a
custom creation as an Academy Award presenter in 2006.
As creative director of Celine, Kors designed many outts for actresses to wear on screen, including Gwyneth
Paltrow in Possession;[16] and Rene Russo in The Thomas
Crown Aair.[17] One of his gowns was worn by Alicia
Keys for her performance at Barack Obamas inaugural
ball on January 21, 2013.[18]

In January 2009, the estate of the artist-designer Tony

Duquette sued Kors for trademark infringement after
Kors allegedly used Duquettes name and images in promoting Kors 2009 resortwear collection.[21]
In July 2013 he became the second luxury brand, after
Tiany & Co, to sue Costco for falsely claiming in advertisements that they sold his product.[22]

5 In popular culture

The ad campaigns for Kors often reect the jet-set

sportswear that Kors fans are fond of. Previous cam- Kors was referenced in the lm The Devil Wears Prada by
paigns include the model Carmen Kass on the tarmac of Meryl Streep's character Miranda Priestly. In the scene,
an airport, on a safari in Africa, and relaxing on a yacht. Priestly sweeps into her oce and gives a list of instrucKors was a judge on the Emmy-nominated reality televi- tions to her personal assistant (Emily Blunt). Priestly
sion program Project Runway, which aired on Bravo for says, RSVP 'yes to Michael Kors party and I want the
ve seasons; subsequent seasons aired on Lifetime. On driver to drop me o at 9:30 and pick me up at 9:45
December 18, 2012, it was announced that Kors would sharp.[23]
be leaving Project Runway, to be replaced by fellow de- Kors is also mentioned in Big Sean's song "Dance" by
signer Zac Posen.[19]
Nicki Minaj. Drake also mentions Michael Kors in his
In January 2014, Forbes reported that Kors now has a
personal fortune in excess of $1 Billion, making him the
latest fashion industry billionaire. Michael Kors Holdings had already minted two billionaires: Silas Chou
and Lawrence Stroll.[20]

song From Time, and rapper Pusha T in his song Numbers on the Boards. Additionally, Kors guest starred as
himself in a Fashion Week themed episode of the hit teen
show Gossip Girl; the same show that repeatedly showcases several pieces from his collections.

[15] Wilson, Eric (February 27, 2009). Mrs. Obama in

Kors. The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
[16] Pezik, Anna (August 16, 2002). Gwyneth Paltrow: 'Possession'". CNN.com archive. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
[17] Atkinson, Nathalie (22 February 2011). Oscar Scorecard: Best costume design. The National Post. Retrieved
9 February 2013.
[18] Wilson, Julee (2013-01-22). Alicia Keys Red Gown:
Singer Stuns In Michael Kors Design At Inaugural Ball.
The Hungton Post. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
[19] Michael Kors Is Leaving 'Project Runway'". The Daily
Beast. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
Michael Kors, left, in January 2015, at Juliuss restaurant in
Greenwich Village, with a fan.

[20] Michael Kors Is Fashions Newest Billionaire. Forbes.

January 2014.

[21] Tony Duquette Files Infringement Suit on Michael Kors

Einnews.com, January 27, 2009

References

[1] Lee, Joyce (August 17, 2011). Designer Michael Kors

marries longtime partner. CBS News. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
[2] Kors show a knockout Opulence, glitz dominate
wardrobes. Daily News (New York). February 10, 2000.
[3] Michael Kors Watches on Sale - Buy Michael Kors
Watches online
[4] H.W. Wilson Company (1986). Current Biography. H.
W. Wilson Co. p. 360. ISBN.
[5] Harpers Bazaar: Michael Kors: American Idol By Elisa
Lipsky-Karasz June 29, 2011
[6] Hamilton, Fiona.
The Times (London) http:
//women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/
fashion/article6187674.ece. Missing or empty |title=
(help)
[7] People Magazine: With His Hot New Line, Michael
Kors Grabs the Fashion Ladders Top Rung By Elizabeth
Sporkin April 8, 1991
[8] Rappaport, Jill (November 2007). Mazel Tov: Celebrities
Bar and Bat Mitzvah Memories. Simon & Schuster. ISBN
0-7432-8787-8.
[9] Andreoli, Richard (2005-02-01). Working the runway:
out designer Michael Kors tells it like it is to would-be
fashionistas on Bravos Project Runway. The Advocate.
Archived from the original on 2007-11-09. Retrieved
2007-06-20.
[10] Michael Kors - Page - Interview Magazine
[11] Vogue.com
[12] Infomat Michael Kors Biography Infomat.com, September 10, 2009
[13] CNN.com, September 18, 2010
[14] Styl.sh The Michael Kors Story, December 11, 2012

[22] Michael Kors company suing Costco claiming false advertising. ABC. July 16, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
[23] The Devil Wears Prada script

7 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

7.1

Text

Michael Kors Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael%20Kors?oldid=651157055 Contributors: Kingturtle, SatyrTN, Postdlf, Sunray, Bkell, David Gerard, Jason Quinn, Morgan695, Neutrality, D6, MeltBanana, Bobo192, DreamGuy, SidP, Daniel Case, Wikiklrsc,
Mandarax, Jw21, Mr Frosty, Gaius Cornelius, Thane, Grafen, Howcheng, Navstar, Crunch, Caponer, SmackBot, The Famous Movie
Director, Quadratic, Bluebot, Calliopejen, Hooriaj, Colonies Chris, Agerard, Shamir1, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Guat6, Accurizer, Ckatz, The Man in Question, Dkorn, Alonzo51087, Hu12, Rnb, Ohthelameness, Chicheley, Myasuda, SKS2K6, Cydebot, Plcs, Cunningpal,
DumbBOT, Ward3001, Omicronpersei8, JimmB, Thijs!bot, Marek69, Neil916, SusanLesch, Lmaltier, CZmarlin, Shousokutsuu, Tmaher,
Postcard Cathy, Albany NY, MegX, Propaniac, ZPM, Waacstats, Gr1st, ForthOK, Hekerui, Jocasta shadow, Talon Artaine, Vigyani,
Rukish, Krushdiva, Pharaoh of the Wizards, BigrTex, Aboutmovies, Sfphotocraft, Imbrown, White 720, GrahamHardy, Kitchawan,
Corvus cornix, UnitedStatesian, Bearian, Napoleon Dynamite42, Lerdthenerd, Wrathpuppet, Meters, Ponyo, StAnselm, Moonriddengirl, Dawn Bard, Waygugin, Flyer22, Aspects, Anakin101, SamuelM555, Owlmonkey, TubularWorld, Sitush, Kennvido, All Hallows
Wraith, Excirial, Liane1950, 842U, Cary, DumZiBoT, Lissyhawk, XLinkBot, Mabalu, Addbot, Blerr, Jim10701, Chamal N, Tassedethe,
Robomod, Lightbot, Fierceavors, Tyrah343, PlankBot, Yobot, Parkaveking, Librsh, Valerio79, Magog the Ogre, Epps22, AnomieBOT,
Hairhorn, Jw1701, Jmh153, Citation bot, Quattroporte, Shojego, Reggiemantle, FrescoBot, Londonlnd, Tinton5, Full-date unlinking bot,
MikeAllen, Callanecc, Vrenator, January, Canuckian89, Diannaa, Mean as custard, RjwilmsiBot, Alph Bot, Petermcelwee, DASHBot,
Tommy2010, TuHan-Bot, Kaytrox91, Wikipelli, Shearonink, Josve05a, H3llBot, QEDK, Erianna, Kennyliam, Sputter1234, Jugenjury1,
Sonicyouth86, ClueBot NG, Gareth Grith-Jones, Jack Greenmaven, MelbourneStar, Fashiongroupie, Justlettersandnumbers, Michaelkorscorp, O.Koslowski, Patapsco913, EileenWu, Robert Biddulph, Eileenwong, Widr, Helpful Pixie Bot, BlueBonnet, BG19bot, MusikAnimal, Amp71, Aduberman, MGR11, BattyBot, Mrt3366, ChrisGualtieri, Mediran, Emogil7, Webclient101, Mogism, Isarra (HG), VIAFbot, Ysyeee, Chaim1995, Dogggy7, Cam04, Epicgenius, ToriJana, Soymilksogood, Tomwilkinsonjersey, Powerda, PippoMinga, Liz,
Thomas5487, IPadPerson, Ajeeeeeezy, Lucylad, Ishani Shah, Monkbot, BerkeleyLaw1979, Killakip, Vieque, Prada8210, Johnkeets1,
J.glover94, QueenFan, Asas122131, Neme504, Mahoneyfarry, Techstriker, Yurr123 and Anonymous: 237

7.2

Images

File:MICHAEL_KORS_221.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/MICHAEL_KORS_221.jpg License:

CC BY 2.0 Contributors: Flickr: MICHAEL KORS_221 Original artist: Masaki-H
File:Merge-arrows.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Merge-arrows.svg License: ? Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:Michael_Kors,_Photographed_by_Ed_Kavishe_for_Fashion_Wire_Press.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/
commons/b/b6/Michael_Kors%2C_Photographed_by_Ed_Kavishe_for_Fashion_Wire_Press.jpg License: CC BY 3.0 Contributors:
Wikipedia:Contact us/Photo submission Original artist: Ed Kavishe, http://www.fashionwirepress.com/
File:Michael_Kors_2015.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Michael_Kors_2015.JPG License: CC
BY-SA 4.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Bearian
File:Michelle_Obama_official_portrait.jpg Source:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Michelle_Obama_
Public domain Contributors:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/hi_res/P021809JB-0046_
official_portrait.jpg License:
MrsObamaPortrait.jpg Original artist: Joyce N. Boghosian, White House photographer

7.3

Content license

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