Michael Kors Transported Us to Italy for Spring 2025
Before the Michael Kors show today at The Shed, the brand had been sharing black-and-white images of Italian vistas on its Instagram, celebrating 35 years of its work with artisans and craftspeople in the country. There was another black-and-white, Italian-set phenomenon on the designer’s mind, too: Netflix’s brilliant, Andrew Scott-starring Ripley, which stripped the spine-tingling Patricia Highsmith tale and breathtaking Italian scenery into compellingly stark frames. For his spring 2025 collection, the talented Mr. Kors brought an Italianissimo flair to staples—many of them in that same noirish palette—for both work and play.
The “office siren” trend got its airing with belted blazers, vests, office-ready Bermudas, and—for the more daring cubicle dweller—microshorts. Even the classic corporate gray flannel suit had its moment, while circle skirts and belted sweaters offered a pleasingly retro ’50s take on corporate-core.
And there were pieces made to be worn on PTO, including coordinating bandeau and skirt sets, splashy florals, demure eyelets, and a very dolce vita off-the-shoulder black dress worn by Irina Shayk. A running motif of raffia trim extended to bags, skirts, shoes, and bucket hats and only intensified the vacation vibes.
This being a Kors show, there was a front row to beat the band: Olivia Wilde, Mary J. Blige, Kerry Washington, Lindsay Lohan. And model moments galore: Carolyn Murphy! Joan Smalls! A newlywed Karen Elson! Plus, the special guest who had been touted pre-show was revealed: South Korean superstar Dahyun, a global brand ambassador for Kors, who nearly broke Twitter when she made her runway debut.
Véronique Hyland is ELLE’s Fashion Features Director and the author of the book Dress Code, which was selected as one of The New Yorker’s Best Books of the Year. Her writing has previously appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, W, New York magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, and Condé Nast Traveler.