NEW YORK – Michael Kors exuded a relaxed vibe as he infused his love for nature into urban New York City, unveiling a star-studded Spring/Summer 2026 collection during New York Fashion Week on Thursday.
The renowned designer enjoys ensuring his audience feels at ease both in his garments and during his presentations. He transformed a vacant warehouse into an inviting space mirroring his beach house, featuring large paper lanterns, wood paneling, and side tables adorned with ceramic vases and succulent plants.
The front row was buzzing as stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Olivia Wilde, Leslie Bibb, Ariana DeBose and Suki Waterhouse chatted before the show.
Kors dubbed the collection “earthly elegance,” drawing inspiration from his recent adventures to tropical locales adept at handling various weather conditions.
“How do you apply those lessons, whether it be pareos and sarongs from Bali and Polynesia, to Manhattan?” Kors pondered during an interview with The Associated Press backstage prior to the show. “How do you adapt those wonderful, softly draped trousers from Morocco to urban city life?”
What’s in Kors’ Spring/Summer 2026 fashion line
The clothing line emphasized a loose fit, beginning with oversized button-down silk blouses matched with flowing cargo or wool crepe draped culotte pants. White linen sets of skirts and trousers offered a vision of idyllic yacht attire. The fabrics were light and often sheer, enhancing both comfort and practicality.
While black, white, and brown dominated the palette typical of Kors, accents of buttery yellow and pink were also prominent. “There’s a plethora of beautiful earth tones, including rich shades of brown, branch colors, and olive—hues you’d encounter in nature,” Kors explained. “But we highlighted everything with lovely sunset shades of pink reminiscent of the desert and stunning yellows akin to a glorious sunrise.”
Suiting is a must for Kors core, and several looks included oversized blazers in wool gaberdine or linen. Some had a softened look with no lapels — some even sleeveless — but others were more classic with a bikini top underneath for a modern touch.
Shoes were flat sandals or open-toed chunky heels, blending comfort and style. Kors also loves a coat and a brass leather trench with matching metallic purse was a standout moment.
Even the eveningwear had an easy feel, as tank dresses made of hand-embroidered paillettes with sheer bottoms continued the flowy vibe. Paillette covered pants were covered in sheer draped jersey, which could be dressed up or down.
Accessories featured extra-long leather tassels dripping off earrings and handbags, and exaggerated leather belts cinching the models’ waists but dangled down.
What the stars say about Kors’ latest fashion line
Actor Olivia Munn said everything in the collection looked “comfortable and chic.
“What I really love is thin fabrics. I feel that thin fabric just hangs on your body so much nicer, and it just feels light and airy and really feminine,” Munn said after the show.
Actor and recording artist Audra McDonald said she wanted to figure out how to get three of the pieces she saw immediately. “I had Judith Light, and I had Laura Carmichael on the other side of me and we were picking outfits for each other. I like this one, you get that one, you get that one!” she recounted.
Recording artist Kelsea Ballerini called the show beautiful and wearable and said she can’t wait to “get her paws” on some of it.
“I loved the silhouettes — it felt very loose and lived in and natural, especially with the color palette. I did love the pop of pink and obviously a little bit of glitter here never hurt anyone,” she said with a smile.
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