History of Michael Kors

 Michael Kors, born Karl Anderson Jr., began designing at 19 after studying at The Fashion Institute of Technology. In 1981, he launched his women's wear line at major high-end department stores such as Bloomingdales and Bergdorf Goodman. Kors was named the first women's ready-to-wear designer and director of Celine in 1997. While at Celine, Kors raised the brand into a critically acclaimed fashion house. Kors left Celine in 2003 and concentrated on his own brand. In 2002, he debuted his menswear line.

 In 2004, Kors launched the Michael Kors runway collection along with the MICHAEL and KORS lines. The KORS line is Michael's attempt to create a mid-tier line that fills the void between his runway and the MICHAEL collection which includes handbags, shoes, and ready-to-wear. Michael Kors has boutiques across the country and often designs for celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Gwyneth Paltrow. Joan Allen even wore his gown when she was nominated for an Academy Award. Kors was awarded the Elle/Cadillac Fashion award in 1995 and won two CFDA awards. He is also a judge on the massively popular show, Project Runway, a reality show about up and coming designers.

 Kors is known for his classic and chic style of American sportswear. Women everywhere appreciate his versatility and attention to cut. His clothes become instant classics, while remaining trendy and up-to-date. The New York Times says of Kors, "Michael Kors is a designer with so much integrity in his work that it is wonderful when fashion comes back to the sort of simple, beautiful clothes he does so well."