#NYFW Report: Michael Kors Fall 2019 Ready-to-Wear Collection

It’s safe to say the seventies are having a moment in fashion right now and Michael Kors has taken reign of the feel good decade by throwing a big bash – New York style. The Michael Kors’ Fall 2019 runway show took place at Cipriani Wall Street which was transformed into an old-school ballroom in line with the theme, complete with distressed herringbone floors, velvet curtains, disco balls and grand chandeliers.

With a collection that references the golden age of seventies famed for glamorous sophistication and individual style, Kors pay tribute to his former favourite haunt Studio 54. “When I arrived in New York, it was a time of great creativity in fashion, theatre, music and art. The sidewalks became like runways, with an explosion of style,” says Kors. “The city was edgy and gritty but underneath it all there was energy, imagination and a sense of total freedom. It’s when the rules disappeared and a new kind of glamour emerged.”

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Photo credits: JP Yim/Getty Images for Michael Kors

Photo credits: JP Yim/Getty Images for Michael Kors

The capsule collection of ready-to-wear and accessories for men and women is a nostalgic nod to Studio 54’s former heyday as the epicentre of seventies hedonism. The club’s bold, graphic logo is treated in multiple ways, evoking a sense of glamour, romance and individual style that showcased the quintessential essence of New York City’s melting pot of culture. “From my first time at Studio 54, back in 1977, I knew that the mix of style, energy and glamour was truly special,” says Kors. “There were no fashion rules, no dress code—people wore whatever they wanted, and it was almost always something glamorous and over-the-top.”

Under the strobe lights and shiny disco balls, Gigi Hadid opened the runway show in true seventies style with big hair, wearing a handkerchief dress and black feather boa. For the closing, renowned supermodel Patti Hansen relieved the glory days with a surprise runway appearance – her first runway walk since 1994.

Florals and deco prints dominated the runway while ruffles, feathers, sequins and fringe amped up the drama for the dance floor. Military details also made a comeback this season and there was a healthy dose of colourful patchwork leather spotted on bomber jackets and boots. Key accessories include elongated clutches adorned with the new MK logo hardware to fringed canteen bags. For men, seventies staples such as bell-bottoms and shirts with extended collars made the perfect pairing for a disco party.

A surprise performance by legendary singer songwriter Barry Manilow marked the show finale as he serenaded the audience with a memorable rendition of the all-time classic hit Copacabana.