Michael Kors Collection’s new spring wardrobe

When you wear Michael Kors Collection, the American designer wants you to feel “optimistic, comfortable and ready to take on the world”. This sense of ease and joyfulness was immediately evident in his spring/summer 2020 collection, which blended carefree nautical style with the elegant silhouettes of ’40s Hollywood, and was all threaded together with a preppy-punk spirit.

Modeled by a star-studded cast of top names including Kaia Gerber and Bella and Gigi Hadid, these are the kind of clothes that will translate seamlessly from the runway into our summer closets. Crisply tailored separates have always been a Kors hallmark, and this time around they came in luxe neutrals, plaids and ginghams. One standout pair of crystal pinstripe wide-leg pants are exactly the kind of elegant piece that will take you from boardroom to bar with the addition of a few choice accessories. By day, pair them with a simple bodysuit in matching navy, a pristine white blazer and ‘barely there’ strappy sandals in a soft neutral hue. After hours, remove the blazer and add a black belt with a rock ’n’ roll edge (look out for chains or studs), a pair of pointed black boots and a slick of red lipstick.

There was a symbiosis between masculine and feminine dress codes as this precision suiting was contrasted against romantic sun dresses and pretty, puff-sleeved rompers with playful lemon prints. There is a distinct cool to Kors’ clothes, too, and he subverted the saccharine undertones of cheerful citrus prints with patent leather belts, perforated with punkish silver rings. It’s these ultra-versatile pieces that Kors has become known for and that have garnered him such an A-list following – this season’s front row included actors Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson and Yalitza Aparicio.

“My spring collection is a celebration of the best of American style,” Kors said regarding his corresponding ad campaign, which features models Ugbad Abdi and Rianne Van Rompaey, shot by Dutch duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in a luxurious Beverly Hills estate. “The Collection campaign focuses on a mix of ease and glamour that is inherently American, and the layers of sophistication, irreverence and romance found in the images complement that juxtaposition.”

Fashion appeared to be something of a birth-right for Kors – in fact, when he was just five years old, he advised his mother on her wedding dress. Founding his company in 1981, he staged his first runway show in 1984, showcasing his eponymous AW84 collection. In the intervening years, his star has been firmly in ascent. Now considered one of New York’s most illustrious designers, Kors showed a SS20 collection that was a triumph of both the fantasy of fashion and real-world wearability.