Vitals
Full Name
Michael D. Kors
Date of Birth
08/09/1959 48 years old
Neighborhood
Greenwich Village
Other Residences
East Patchogue, NY
Who
A designer of classically conventional American fashion, Kors has become a household name since his turn as the resident bitch on Bravo's Project Runway.
Backstory
Long Island native Kors says he was first inspired to become a designer by his glamorous mother, a former model. In the mid-'70s he enrolled at FIT, dropping out after a year to take a job designing and merchandising for the New York boutique Lothars. That line caught the attention of a buyer from Bergdorf's, and in 1981 the Michael Kors label was launched at Bergdorf's and Saks. But the road to fame and fortune wasn't quick and easy by any stretch. Kors struggled to keep his line afloat during the '80s, and was eventually forced to file for bankruptcy protection in 1991. He went on to serve as women's ready-to-wear designer for LVMH-owned Celine in the '90s, and later became creative director for the house.
In 2003, Kors went out on his own again when he landed funding from veteran fashion financiers Silas Chou and his partner Lawrence Stroll, who had backed Tommy Hilfiger in the early days. Today Kors is responsible for three lines: the runway collection, the mid-tier Kors label, and Michael, the most accessible range that includes menswear, swimwear and accessories. He also has a line of Michael Kors fragrances for both men and women and a luxury bedding line sold exclusively at Bloomingdales.
Of note
An industry vet known for his all-American designs à la Bill Blass or Calvin Klein, Kors earned the sort of mainstream fame that had always eluded him with the debut of Project Runway. But while Kors and his investors were hoping to capitalize on his reality TV celebrity with an aggressive expansion plan, Kors' menswear and lower-priced lines failed to generate much buzz. (The fragrances and accessories were much more successful.) These days Kors remains popular with celebrities looking for the perfect gown to wear on the red carpet, and with socialites like Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, Lauren duPont, and Tory Burch. But his ability to break though in the sportswear category will determine the label's long-term viability, industry observers say. To that end, his investors are now planning to open 100 Michael Kors-branded stores as part of their bid to turn Kors into a "billion dollar brand."
Personal
Kors lives in the Village, in the same building at newsman Shepard Smith. He paid $3.995 million for the pad in 2005. He also has a home on Long Island.
No joke
Project Runway wasn't Kors' first on-screen appearance. As a child actor, he was in a Lucky Charms commercial.
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