Michael Kors Interview

We hit the runway with designer Michael Kors for a first hand look at the fashion trends coming to a store near you.

Michael Kors Interview Audra Lowe: Michael Kors is one of the tough judges on the hit reality show Project Runway and also one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Lauren went one on one at fashion week though with the designer. Lauren Ezersky: Well here we are in Bryant Park. It’s Fashion Week Fall 2010. We will go in and meet Michael Kors, one of my favorites. So let’s go. It’s actually now 8:15 and this is really early for me. Looking at clothes I love but it’s just early. Models, models, models. Is it hard to be a male model? Yes, you’ve got to walk and look good you know. Male: Walk yes you can’t fall down. There are all these rules. No, it’s a pretty good life you can’t complain. Lauren Ezersky: What are we doing? What’s the look? I see it’s kind of a little bit smoky, a little bit smoky. Male 2: Yes, it’s a bronze and grey combo around the eyes. And then I want to do – I’m custom coloring girl by girl. She’s always so fair. We can give her a little of rose on a flash so we can’t go for bronze. Ideally they come in pretty and leave looking prettier. Lauren Ezersky: You’ve got a list. What’s with the list? Orlando: I have to see who gets a coat, who gets a hat, who gets a hood and who gets extensions. I have to reorganize. Lauren Ezersky: I didn’t even think of that. You know that’s right. Orlando: Yes. Lauren Ezersky: Well that makes sense. Orlando: Yes. It’s supposed to look the same but we’re doing this big kind of a very textured ponytails. So if they have a big coat on with a collar, you don’t want that humpback on the coat. Lauren Ezersky: That would not be pretty. Orlando: On the coat, no. Lauren Ezersky: You’re the most supportive mom. You’re here every single season for every show. Mrs. Kors: You’re right. Lauren Ezersky: Is he like a really good son? Mrs. Kors: He is a really good son. Lauren Ezersky: He buys you flowers and candies. Mrs. Kors: Flowers and candies, trips to Bali, Phuket. Lauren Ezersky: And free clothes. Mrs. Kors: Fur coats. Lauren Ezersky: Free clothes. Mrs. Kors: Free clothes. Lauren Ezersky: I love it. Michael Kors: There are some very cool metallic accents in the show. A lot of these are kind of gun-metal and pewter or bronze. It’s not about like disco, silver pants from the 70s. This is not an Alicia Bridges moment. Lauren Ezersky: I love the night life! Michael Kors: I do love the night life but I think it’s time for it to get modern. Lauren Ezersky: If a regular woman watches your runway show, they can pull pieces apart and just make their own statement with it. Michael Kors: Well you know, I think that for the last few years, like we’ve seen too many shows filled with too many cocktail dresses, too many clothes that I think are really cute but maybe you’d only wear once. And this is really all about this assemblage of great pieces because that’s how people dress. So when you watch the show, you can look up and say “Well I need that coat.” “What a cool pair of pants.” “That sweater’s going to be great.” It’s all about individual style. That’s what American sportswear is based on. Lauren Ezersky: I think you inspired a lot of designers because I’ve been going around interviewing people this whole week and I see a lot of Michael Kors looking really like kind of elegant stuff. But you did this first before anybody else. I see a lot of young designers following your path. How do you feel about that? Michael Kors: Well I have a feeling many of them have worked for me. At this point, they’re either intern for me or work for me. I mean I’ve been making American luxury sportswear now for almost 30 years. And it’s what I believe in. And now when I first started it was something that was really just for American women. Now it’s around the world. It’s how people want to look. Audra Lowe: And you can see Michael Kors on Project Runway. Just check it out on Thursday nights.