Michael Kors is in a sunshine state of mind, and can you blame him? He picked up the CFDA's Lifetime Achievement Award in June, his company is expected to break the $1 billion sales barrier this year, and then there are those persistent rumors that the Project Runway star is about to get a TV show of his own. The collection opened optimistically, as others have this week, with a passage in white: a gauzy long-sleeve T-shirt over a leg-baring sarong for her, a matching linen suit and tank for him. And the life's-a-breeze, easy-luxe attitude didn't end there.
A daffodil tissue-cashmere tank dress popped with energy, as did the tunic dress with three-quarter sleeves that followed. With the exception of his maillots (some for actual swimming, others strictly for sunbathing), the silhouette was loosened up: Pantsuits for both the guys and the girls were relaxed and shirts were worn un-tucked; cardigans came oversize and cozy; and gray cashmere-cotton sweatshirt fabric played a starring role.
The theme carried into extras, as well, like exuberantly big cross-body messenger bags (an equal-opportunity accessory) and easy-on-the-feet platform wedges and flat sandals. Even evening was a casually cool affair. Kors' draped silk jersey gowns in ultra-bright yellow and pink were more caftan on the beach than A-lister on the red carpet. In fact, a bit of his usual polished swagger wouldn't have gone amiss.
Kors skipped after-dark completely for the guys, unless you count the one lucky male model who got to walk the runway in something called "sky striped techno taffeta pajama pants." Come spring, his nature boys will be sporting Bermuda shorts and sweater vests that dip low enough in front to expose a swatch of chest hair. Life's a beach.
