The American Dreamer

In conversation with veteran designer Michael Kors, whose accessories combine American pragmatism and the fantasy of the jet-set life—a perfect pick for the cosmpolitan bride-to-be.

- Anupriya Roy

"No human being should wear tight satin!” exclaims Michael Kors, while critiquing one of the contestants on the TV show Project Runway, as viewers watch on, captivated by the designer’s honest and cheeky commentary. The ‘jet-setting lifestyle’ that is often associated with the designer is a far cry from his upbringing in Long Island, New York. It is rumoured that Kors had formed an opinion on fashion at a very young age and would often advise his mother on what to wear. “I grew up in a very supportive family that sort of embraced the idea of being different—and they were fashion-obsessed! It was really kind of obvious that I was going to work in fashion one way or another,” he explains.

His path to becoming a household name wasn’t bereft of challenges. After dropping out of the Fashion Institute of Technology, the designer started making clothes independently, which were soon picked up by Bergdorf Goodman. His sportswear aesthetic, clean lines, and inherently American DNA was received well by the buyers at that time, enamoured by his version of Hollywood glamour. “Ever since I was young, I was inspired by the jet-setters of the ’70s and ’80s&m