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 and redesign his mom’s wedding dress. At FIVE. While the rest of us were still playing with action figures, he was playing with tulle.
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.
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.
In 1981, Kors officially launched his own line, a big, bold move that turned heads and got tongues wagging in the best way.
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.
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.
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.
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.