While news of the world remains bleak, fashion reminds us that joy and beauty are here to stay. The spring 2015 collections celebrated nature and femininity, and Michael Kors gave one of the best shows. A master of American sportswear, Kors has built an empire of covetable goods at all price points. Let’s look at a marvelous dress from his Ready to Wear collection (not at the low end of the price spectrum!) Kors’ inspiration this season was American-style optimism, and the decade that expressed it best: the 1950’s.
Florals were omnipresent in his collection, and this dress features a large repeat of peony-style flowers in vibrant fuchsia and green embroidery. While most designers bowed to the 1970’s this season with wispy, bohemian dresses that could blow away, Kors’ dress is solid and formidable. It appears heavy both in color (navy background) and in weight (the fabric is wool). Look at the wonderful balance of proportion: The arms are exposed, but the structure of the dress confidently covers most of the body, while giving it an hourglass shape. The wearer of the dress feels safe in her own skin. Is the silhouette 1950’s or 1940’s? It has that vintage look, but the deep V neckline makes it contemporary, without being overtly sexy. Accessories are not required with this bold print, and we liked the soft hair and dewy makeup on the model. Kors’ choice of footwear almost disappears next to the dress. The Roman-style sandals bring the cocktail party look down quite a few notches. Perhaps this reflects the mood of fashion right now: casual and unfussy, even when it’s semi-formal. This dress is a garden party: fresh and romantic, but with both feet on the ground.