Forgotten Creative Directions: Michael Kors At Céline
365 days of fashion: the e-ncyclopedia of fashion
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Dear reader,
This is a free preview of an article from 365 days of fashion - the daily newsletter that teaches about fashion industry fundamentals.
Our subscribers receive 5 quick-to-read emails per week in which we explain behind-the-scenes of the fashion industry, iconic collections and shows, key fashion design and business terms, fun facts about designers and editors, the history of magazines, and much more. Subscribe today and join a unique place to become an expert in fashion.
On the occasion of Michael Kors’s birthday tomorrow, let’s revisit an important aspect of his career.
Did you know that after launching his eponymous label in 1981, Michael Kors served as the creative director of Céline from 1997 to 2004?
Céline was founded in 1945 by Céline Vipiana. Following her death in 1997, LVMH acquired the brand and was looking for a designer who could expand it. The group chose Michael Kors and he arrived in 1997, becoming the first-ever creative director besides the founder to take the helm of the Maison.
Back then, Kors was one of the few American designers to lead a French fashion house. Marc Jacobs had recently become Louis Vuitton’s creative director and Narciso Rodriguez arrived at Loewe.
“I always thought I was such just a New York guy. I never