Michael Kors facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Kors
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Kors in c. 2008
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| Born |
Karl Anderson Jr.
August 9, 1959 Long Island, New York, U.S.
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| Citizenship | American |
| Education | Fashion Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Spouse(s) |
Lance Le Pere
(m. 2011) |
| Parents |
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| Awards | 1999 CFDA award for womenswear designer of the year 2003 CFDA award for menswear designer of the year |
| Honours | CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year in 1999
CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year in 2003 CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award |
Michael David Kors (born Karl Anderson Jr. on August 9, 1959) is a famous American fashion designer. He is the main creative person behind his own brand, Michael Kors. This brand sells many items for both men and women. You can find ready-to-wear clothes, accessories, watches, jewelry, shoes, and perfumes.
Before focusing on his own brand, Kors was the first designer for women's ready-to-wear clothes at the French fashion house Celine. He worked there from 1997 to 2003. On January 2, 2019, his company, Michael Kors Holdings Limited, changed its name to Capri Holdings Limited. Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, and Versace are all big brands that are part of Capri Holdings Limited.
About Michael Kors
His Early Life
Michael Kors was born as Karl Anderson Jr. on Long Island, New York. His mother, Joan Hamburger, used to be a model. His father was Karl Anderson Sr. When Michael was five years old, his mother married Bill Kors. At that time, his last name was changed to Kors. His mother also let him choose a new first name, and he picked Michael David.
He grew up in Merrick, New York. He finished high school at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York.
Family Life
Michael Kors married his partner, Lance Le Pere, on August 16, 2011. Their wedding took place in Southampton, New York, in The Hamptons.
Michael Kors's Fashion Journey
Starting in Fashion
Michael Kors loved fashion from a very young age. His mother believed it was partly because she worked as a model. When he was only five, Michael even redesigned his mother's wedding dress for her second marriage! As a teenager, he started designing clothes and selling them from his parents' basement. He called his basement shop "the Iron Butterfly."
In 1977, he started studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. But he left after just nine months. He then got a job at a boutique called Lothar's. He began as a salesperson and later became the designer and visual display manager for the store.
Building His Brand
In 1981, Michael Kors launched his first women's clothing line under the Michael Kors label. It was sold at the famous store Bergdorf Goodman. Later, in 1990, his company started a second line called KORS Michael Kors.
In 1993, his business faced some difficulties, and he had to pause the KORS line for a while. But he worked hard and got back on his feet by 1997. He launched a new, more affordable clothing line. At the same time, he was chosen to be the first women's ready-to-wear designer for the French fashion house Celine. During his time at Celine, Kors helped the brand become very successful with popular accessories and highly praised clothing collections. He left Celine in October 2003 to focus completely on his own brand. In 2002, he also launched his menswear line.
Dressing Celebrities
Many famous people have worn Michael Kors's designs. These include Nicole Kidman, Tiffany Haddish, Reese Witherspoon, Lupita Nyong'o, Olivia Wilde, Blake Lively, Kate Hudson, Rene Russo, Jennifer Lawrence, Taylor Swift, Kate Middleton, Hillary Clinton, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Blunt, Kristen Stewart, Ariana DeBose, Vice President Kamala Harris, Heidi Klum, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sigourney Weaver, and Ciara.
Michelle Obama wore a black dress by Kors for her first official portrait as First Lady. She also wore his designs again at the 2015 State of the Union address.
Viola Davis wore a special Michael Kors Collection gown when she won a Golden Globe award for her role in the movie Fences. Kate Hudson and Olivia Wilde both wore his gowns to the 2016 Golden Globes. Emily Blunt wore a white custom gown by the designer in 2015. Joan Allen wore his gown when she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Contender.
As the creative director of Celine, Kors designed many outfits for actresses to wear in movies. These included Gwyneth Paltrow in Possession and Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair.
One of his gowns was worn by Alicia Keys when she performed at Barack Obama's inaugural ball on January 21, 2013.
Television Appearances
Michael Kors was a judge on the popular reality television show Project Runway. This show helps new fashion designers compete. It aired on Bravo for five seasons and then on Lifetime. On December 18, 2012, it was announced that Kors would be leaving Project Runway. Another designer, Zac Posen, took his place. However, Kors returned to Project Runway in 2016 as a guest judge for the season 15 finale.
Becoming a Billionaire
In January 2014, Forbes magazine reported that Michael Kors had become a billionaire. His company, Michael Kors Holdings, had already helped two other people, Silas Chou and Lawrence Stroll, become billionaires too.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Kors has received many awards and honors for his work and his efforts to help others:
- 2016: The World Food Program USA gave Kors the McGovern-Dole Leadership award. Vice President Joe Biden presented this award.
- 2015: He was named a Global Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme.
- 2015: The non-profit organization God's Love We Deliver named their new headquarters the Michael Kors Building. This was to honor his long-time support.
- 2013: He was chosen for The Time 100, which is Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was also on the New York Observer's list of the 100 Most Influential New Yorkers in fashion.
- 2013: The Couture Council of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology honored him with the 2013 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion.
- 2013: Kors gave Hillary Rodham Clinton the first-ever Michael Kors Award for Outstanding Community Service.
- 2012: He received the Golden Heart Lifetime Achievement Award from God's Love We Deliver. This group delivers fresh meals to people with serious illnesses. He has been involved with them for over 20 years.
- 2010: He received the Oliver R. Grace Award for Distinguished Service in Advancing Cancer Research. This award is given by the Cancer Research Institute, which works to find new treatments for cancer.
- 2010: Kors was the youngest person ever to receive the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). He also received the Fragrance Foundation's FiFi Award for Lifetime Achievement.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Kors para niños
- LGBT culture in New York City
- List of LGBT people from New York City
- New York Fashion Week
- NYC Pride March
