Elevate your daily look, courtesy of MICHAEL Michael Kors

When it comes to imbuing so-called closet ‘staples’ with an air of sophistication and sexiness, no one does it quite like legendary American designer Michael Kors, and his FW21 MICHAEL Michael Kors collection does not disappoint. Featuring a lineup of ultra-covetable separates each more covetable than the last, Kors’ latest offering has captured the essence of how real women want to dress right now.

A born designer, Kors has had a preternatural savvy for both style and business since he was a child. He famously advised his mother on her wedding dress when he was just five years old – steering her away from the excesses of the day towards a more classic and streamlined style – and went on to open his own boutique, Iron Butterfly, originally in his parents’ Long Island basement, when he was just 11. This may sound like a childish whim, but in many ways the establishment of this ‘store’ was a prescient venture.

In 1977, Kors made the move to New York City to attend the illustrious Fashion Institute of Technology and formalize his innate talent for design. However, finding the nightlife, subcultures and scenes of the city around him far more formative than his classes, he made the bold decision to leave school after nine months and took a job at cult 57th Street boutique Lothar’s. In 1981, Kors established his eponymous label to critical and commercial acclaim, bursting onto the global fashion scene. Career-defining stints at the helm of European houses and a bevy of highly prized industry awards quickly followed, along with the founding of his much-loved diffusion line, MICHAEL Michael Kors, in 2004.

For FW21, Kors took the inspiration for his MICHAEL Michael Kors collection from fabled magazine editor and columnist Diana Vreeland, who once famously said of all things sartorial, ‘The eye has to travel.’ This season, Kors interpreted that edict to mean that his pieces, although timeless, chic and, crucially, ultra-wearable, must also semaphore a sense of adventure, discovery and wanderlust – subtly nodding to the global crisis that we finally find ourselves emerging from. These are understated designs, but Kors’ tireless focus on quality and craft means they still promise to turn heads and bring a sense of occasion to long-awaited gatherings with friends and family. “As life starts getting back to normal, I think everyone is looking forward to venturing out and exploring,” says Kors. “You can feel the energy and excitement of a fresh start in the air.”

Nowhere is this new mood more evident than in Kors’ sumptuous selection of coats. From a cozy woollen take on the classic trench coat to elegant yet effortless robe coats, complete with waist-cinching belts, these pared-back pieces add the perfect finishing touch to literally any outfit. For an elevated take on off-duty dressing, shrug yours on over the designer’s faux leather leggings and a statement knit – Kors’ structured sweater is top of our wish list right now. After dark, layer your coat over a ruffled dress paired with supple knee-high boots. These coats boast ultimate style mileage – meaning that, whichever one you gravitate towards, it will have a cherished place in your closet for years to come.

Elsewhere, Kors has also put his own spin on the ‘shacket’, one of FW21’s definitive pieces. Practical yet polished, Kors’ oversized slate-gray iteration is guaranteed to be on heavy rotation this season. Style it with everything from blue jeans and chunky boots to LBDs and elevated track pants. The options really are endless.

In many ways, the infinite versatility of the brand’s pieces is where the true allure of MICHAEL Michael Kors lies. With this line, the designer gives women the tools and freedom to express themselves, for these are pieces designed to highlight the singular women who wear them.

Why the ‘shacket’ is a fall-wardrobe must-have

Your fail-safe FW21 shopping list is here