Michael Kors oozes colorful optimism at NY fashion week

NEW YORK - A self-avowedly optimistic Michael Kors embraced bold colors in a big way Wednesday with a New York fashion week show filled with blues, greens, reds -- and the whitest of whites.

With film star couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones among his front-row guests at Lincoln Center, Kors sent out women's and men's ranges for spring-summer 2012 with classic lines and minimal detailing.

"Optimistic," Kors told AFP backstage, summing up the mood of his collection. He was more forthcoming on his Twitter account: "Graphic stripes, bold shades and geometric glamor... Bold shades of sun, palm and sky."

Opening the show was a red-and-blue nautical striped bodysuit with an over-the-knee skirt provocatively slit up the front. What followed were glaring white trench coats, open-backed camisole dresses and a bare midriff ensemble.

One dark leather dress was perforated throughout with eyelets, in a way that came across as sophisticated rather than punk-rockish. Several other outfits were matched with big gold-buckle belts or hi-tech, tinted goggle-like glasses.

Top model Karlie Kloss elegantly closed the show in a geometrically cut black gown likely to be seen again on a red carpet during showbiz award season.

The Kors show is one of the biggest attractions at New York fashion week, which ends Thursday. For those who couldn't make it, the 53-year-old American designer made the most of Internet technology to bring them inside.

Not only did his corporate website stream the show live, but Kors also let a roaming camera follow him backstage, revealing his pre-show jitters as he mingled with the models and stylists.

"Optimistic. Glamor," read a handwritten poster backstage to inspire the models. "You are bold, confident and exude chic. Walk straight and strong, and remember you are the envy of everyone in the room. Have a great show!"

Kors has a lot of reasons to feel upbeat, having grown the brand overseas and seen the value of his 30-year-old company double after its listing on the New York stock exchange in December 2011.

Other designers showing in New York on Wednesday -- in competition with Apple's launch of its new iPhone 5 -- included J. Mendel, Anna Sui and Vivienne Tam. Thursday features Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein.

Rachel Zoe, building on her reputation as a Hollywood stylist and host of a fashion-themed reality TV series, had the northern Italian coast in mind with her varied collection in seaside hues of salmon, tangerine and azure.

Floating silk caftans shared Zoe's runway with sequined cocktail dresses and evening wear, while leather -- a big trend at the New York shows -- appeared in the form of a short-sleeve jacket and skinny jeans in a deep caramel brown.

Smart woven hats appeared frequently. So did intriguing wallet belts, matched with light dresses for the traveling woman who would prefer to be free of a handbag on a day out in the tropics.

Recently divorced from Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and her design partner Jeanne Yang meanwhile presented their Holmes and Yang collection at a Lincoln Center event on Wednesday that was off-limits to nearly all media outlets.

Blogging for the Los Angeles Times, fashion critic Booth Moore -- one of the 150 or so invitees to the morning show -- described the collection as "relaxed elegance" with an L.A. vibe.

"There's no reason to think that the line won't continue to gain momentum now that Holmes has garnered so much goodwill with the public since her split with Cruise," she wrote.

by Robert MacPherson