By Iris Edén Santiago
Special to The Star
Adding pops of marigold and orange to monochromatic looks in his signature palette of camel, black, white and gold, Michael Kors painted the town red. And boy did he deliver!
“Step Out,” his fall/winter 2022 RTW collection is vibrant, energetic, electric, and as he said, “big-city glamour.” And yet so uncomplicated, accessible and wearable. Created to honor the nightlife of his hometown, the looks will certainly adapt to a night out everywhere chic is part of the equation. The garments are designed to wear as shown on the runway or to play mix and match as the fabrics, coats, tops and bottoms provide endless possibilities. That’s why we love this American designer so much.
Leggy minis, elegant midis, catsuits, jumpsuits, turtle necks, trousers and skirts were modeled with sandals, pointed-toe stiletto heels, and boots, my favorites. Knee-high boots, over-the-knee or thigh-high boots complete any look with so much glam, especially if it’s a monochromatic look like those presented by Kors. It is provocative and classy, in equal parts.
Evening wear is opulent in shiny neutrals: charcoal, black, nude, white and silver. Adorable tiny sequins embellish asymmetric hand-embroidered midi dresses and gowns for a fabulous finish. Also fantastic? Crystal-embroidered mini dresses for bar hopping, dinner or daytime. Sequins and crystals are everywhere you look around the clock. And I love it! Tank tops, halter tops, criss-cross, strapless, one-shoulder or asymmetrical, Kors knows how to elevate the construction and silhouette of any dress. Add an artistic cutout or two, and voilà!
Now let’s talk about furs and coats, satchels and shawls. Oversized, fluffy and wonderful. Balmacaan knitted shearling coats in white, yellow and fuchsia, and sophisticated and very trendy shawls in knitted shearling topped most of his monochromatic looks, just beautiful and edgy. These shawls are not just for the theater, ladies. These shawls are meant to go everywhere. As he has fans used to, his coats are just perfection: his chesterfield sequin coat in black, a wool shawl coat in white, a reefer wool coat in fuchsia, and a high-impact double-breasted calf hair trench coat. Faux fur, tweed, embossed leather, faux croc, there is a coat for everyone. And the silver metallic jacket, tied at the waist with a belt and modeled by Irina Shayk, was absolutely stunning.
“For this show, I wanted to bring the excitement and energy of a night on the town to life — because I think right now, no matter where you are, we’re all craving that,” Kors wrote in the collection notes. “And the clothes are really everything you need for stepping up, stepping out and making an entrance.”