New York Fashion Week is always a marathon – a packed run of shows, parties and gossip. It runs from 11 – 16 September 2025, with more than sixty official runway shows and presentations. Heavy‑hitters like Christian Siriano, Todd Snyder and Tory Burch return, alongside newcomers such as Amir Taghi, SC103 and Maria McManus. Notably absent are Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren. The Council of Fashion Designers of America has slotted Michael Kors into the opening slot on Thursday, 11 September, making him the week’s pace‑setter. With a host of editors, buyers and celebrities flying into Manhattan and a mystery designer still slated for the closing night, the energy feels like a fresh start.
Michael Kors, born Karl Anderson Jr., built his empire on what he calls “casual luxury.” His genius lies in distilling luxury into wearable clothing – clean lines, impeccable tailoring and a neutral‑heavy palette punctuated by calculated bold statements. Kors’ Jet Set pieces marry functionality with glamour at price points that make luxury tangible.
Over the decades, he has interpreted American sportswear through a cosmopolitan lens, reimagining laid‑back separates and outerwear as aspirational items. This “accessible luxury” strategy, coupled with high‑visibility roles on Project Runway and celebrity partnerships, has made him synonymous with modern American glamour.
Kors’ most recent collection, shown in September 2024 for spring/summer 2025, looked to Italy for inspiration. In pre‑show teasers, the brand posted black‑and‑white Italian vistas on Instagram, celebrating 35 years of partnership with Italian artisans. The runway delivered a noirish palette of black and white, punctuated with splashes of earthy brown and floral prints. The “office siren” trend was present through belted blazers, vests and micro‑shorts.
Perhaps the most distinctive details were the belts and raffia. Kors opened with crisp tailoring and a belted waist, gradually adding fringe and floral embellishments for a resort‑minded ease. In some looks, the raffia was so fine that it resembled fur. These details, combined with romantic portrait necklines and pleated goddess dresses, gave the collection a dreamy yet wearable vibe. Celebrities such as Olivia Wilde, Mary J. Blige and K‑pop star Dahyun lined the front row, underscoring Kors’ pop‑culture pull.
For fall/winter 2025, unveiled in February 2025, Kors shifted the venue indoors and created a set inspired by his own living room. The runway was evoking a “warm modernism” complete with exposed brick, wood accents and Japanese paper lanterns.
The palette remained neutral: black and grey anchored the collection, with chocolate, deep purple and hints of green. Long‑haired shearling in colours like dusty mauve and celadon appeared on coats, vests, handbags and shoes. Leather trench coats belted at the waist and sequinned jackets brought understated glamour. Accessories included structured bags trimmed with faux fur and dramatic opera gloves. The front row again featured Suki Waterhouse, Rachel Zegler and Kerry Washington, signalling the designer’s continued celebrity cachet.
Michael Kors isn’t limiting his vision to the runway. This summer, he launched the Jet Set hotel package with the Montauk Yacht Club, part of the resort’s multimillion‑dollar reopening. The package blends fashion, dining and leisure: guests receive a Bedford Travel weekender bag at check‑in, enjoy a chef‑curated dining experience at the Ocean Club restaurant, get massages at a floating cabana spa and take sunset cruises on an electric boat with crudités and rosé. Kors also hosted a two‑week pop‑up at the resort’s boutique in June. This foray into experiential hospitality demonstrates how the brand is translating its jet‑set DNA into real‑world resort experiences. It hints at a future where customers can literally live inside the Kors aesthetic – a Jet‑Set 2.0 that merges clothing, accessories and lifestyle.
A quick look through recent Instagram clips from Michael Kors teases “summer vibes” and shows iconic MK handbags, raffia textures and statement belts remain central to Kors’ posts.
Well then, reading the signs, looking at the spring/summer and fall/winter shows, a few themes emerge, and here is what I predict to see on September 11th:
As the unofficial mayor of New York style, Michael Kors opens NYFW with the confidence of a designer who knows his woman and his city. His recent collections have balanced nostalgia and modernity, from 1950s-inspired circle skirts to 1990s soft tailoring. Belts have anchored silhouettes, raffia and shearling have added texture, and the palette has moved from monochrome purity to muted earthy tones. The new Jet Set 2.0 suggests Kors is selling an entire lifestyle, not just clothes. Come September 11, expect an evolution and expansion of the Kors universe that celebrates American glamour while inviting the world along for the ride.
