Before Michael Kors became the household name, we all know, and many of us carry on our arms. He was just a style-obsessed kid from Long Island with a wild imagination and a killer eye for fashion. Born Karl Anderson Jr. (yep, he renamed himself later more on that in a sec!), Kors was surrounded by glamor early on, thanks to his mom, Joan, a former model who clearly passed on the fashion gene.
Now here’s where it gets spicy: when little Karl was just five years old, his mom got remarried. As part of the new family chapter, she told him he could pick a new name. Imagine being in kindergarten and casually rebranding yourself like a pop star! He chose Michael David Kors, and thus, the legend began.
He grew up in Merrick, New York, a suburb where most kids were more into baseball than brocade. But Michael? He was busy sketching outfits and, wait for it, redesigning his mom’s wedding dress. At FIVE. While the rest of us were still playing with action figures, he was playing with tulle.
Basement Beginnings: The Iron Butterfly
Teenage Kors didn’t just doodle dresses in the margins of his homework, he sold them. Out of his parents’ basement, no less. And because even back then branding mattered, he dubbed his little fashion heaven - The Iron Butterfly. Iconic.
He eventually made his way to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, which, let’s be honest, sounds like the obvious next step. But Kors being Kors, he dropped out after less than a year turns out, he was more into doing than studying.
After leaving FIT early (because honestly, who has time for homework when you are destined for fashion greatness?), Michael Kors landed a job at Lothar’s, a swanky, trendsetting boutique nestled right on West 57th Street. This wasn’t your average retail gig, Lothar’s was the spot, a fashion hotspot known for its Euro-chic flair and stylish clientele. Think: less stockroom, more runway-ready energy.
And here’s where fate stepped in wearing high heels: while working there, Kors caught the eye of Dawn Mello, then the executive VP at Bergdorf Goodman (a.k.a. the mothership of luxury fashion). She took one look at Kors’ designs and basically said, “Kid, when you have got a collection, call me.”
And oh, he did.
In 1981, Kors officially launched his own line, a big, bold move that turned heads and got tongues wagging in the best way. Three years later, he made his runway debut in 1984, and get this: Iman—yes, THE Iman, opened the show, gliding down the catwalk in a sleek turtleneck and gray flannels like the runway goddess she is. It was understated, powerful, and very “I know what I’m doing, thanks.”
That first show didn’t scream for attention; it whispered style with confidence. It was classic Michael: modern, minimal, and effortlessly chic. A designer was born, and fashion? Well, fashion sat up and paid attention.
But even icons hit a few bumps, and in 1993, Kors filed for Chapter 11. Oof. His licensing partner folded, and the KORS Michael Kors line had to be put on pause. But this is Michael Kors we are talking about; quitting was not on the menu.
1997: Joining Celine as Creative Director
By 1997, Kors was back in business, and in a big way. That same year, he landed the role of creative director for Celine, the French luxury house known for elegant understatement. Most designers would be intimidated by a legacy label in Paris, but Kors? He made it look easy.
He breathed fresh life into Celine, dazzling critics and customers alike with sleek accessories and sharply tailored ready-to-wear. His designs were refined but never boring, polished silhouettes with a wink of glam. The kind of clothes you could wear to a board meeting or a beachside dinner in St. Barts.
And while he was conquering Celine, he was still nurturing his namesake brand back in the U.S. Double hustle mode: activated.
2002: Bringing MK Back with Men’s Wear Debut Collection
In 2002, Kors launched menswear, proving he could do laid-back luxury for the fellas, too. Tailored, cool, and wearable, his men’s collection was a hit and added yet another layer to the growing MK empire.
By the early 2000s, Kors was firmly back on top, and this time, he wasn’t just riding the fashion wave, he was steering the yacht. The brand grew bigger, bolder, and shinier. Accessories became a thing, we are talking watches, bags, sunglasses, and that now-iconic gold MK logo.
And let’s not forget his turn as the sassy, sharp-tongued judge on Project Runway. Between hilarious critiques and fashion-world wisdom, Kors became a household name, even for people who’d never set foot in a boutique.
So, by the time the late 2000s and 2010s rolled around, Michael Kors wasn’t just a designer anymore, he was a brand. A movement. A full-on empire. You couldn’t walk through an airport without spotting at least five women carrying MK totes, dripping in gold-tone watches, and probably wearing aviators, His Jet Set lifestyle branding? Immaculate.
But Kors wasn’t content with just dominating department stores and Instagram feeds. Oh no. He had plans.
In 2011, Michael Kors went public, literally. The brand IPO’d on the New York Stock Exchange, and it was one of the biggest fashion IPOs ever at the time. Imagine launching your first collection in a boutique basement, and a few decades later... Wall Street’s like, “We’re investing.” Legend.
Then, things got even spicier.
Meet Capri Holdings: The Fashion Avengers Assemble
In 2017, Michael Kors Holdings made a jaw-dropping move and bought Jimmy Choo, yes, that Jimmy Choo, the fashion world gasped. Kors wasn’t just selling fashion anymore. He was collecting it.
But he didn’t stop there. In 2018, he really shook the couture table by acquiring Versace, as in, the bold, gold-drenched, Milanese powerhouse known for Medusa heads and unapologetic glam. It was a wild and brilliant move. And with that, the company rebranded itself as Capri Holdings.
So now, under one super-chic umbrella, Kors is overseeing not just his own brand, but three global, founder-led fashion icons:
- Michael Kors – Classic American glam
- Jimmy Choo – London-born luxury footwear
- Versace – Italian maximalist legend
Today, Kors is still very much involved in the creative side of his namesake brand, while simultaneously playing boss-level chess with the big picture. He’s built something rare in fashion longevity. His pieces are timeless, but his career? Iconic.
And let’s be real: not many designers can say they have dressed First Ladies, won CFDA awards, survived the brutal tides of fashion finance, starred on reality TV, and then bought Versace. Like... mic drop.
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