Michael Kors Fall 2014

Michael Kors has become a household name, billion-dollar businessman by finding just the right balance between giving his customers what they want and showing them what they need. The results are clothes that women crave. You want to look like this, dress like this. You just didn’t know it until Kors showed you the way.

For the fall 2014 collection, Michael Kors continued along the easy, breezy road he led his fans for spring. Kors’ show notes referred to a Northern California vibe. Here were clothes that would make women from anywhere around the world feel like a modern California girl, chilling out on a fall day in front of an outdoor fire pit before she heads out to dinner.

There were plenty of light and swishy dresses and skirts in filmy-looking prints like a slate python print dress and a taupe metallic floral coupe dress. A dark chocolate fil coupe and skirt caught the light. Looks in camel and winter white softened what could have been an otherwise austere color palette of charcoal, light grey, black and chocolate.

More than anyone, this modern California girl on Kors runway was a channeling of the rocker Stevie Nicks in all her gypsyish glory. But rather than eccentric, Kors made it sexy and now. The peasant-style tops and skirts were inviting and alluring, especially when Kors turned up the sexy with surprises like his suede-fringed skirts. It was a clever twist on vintage suede-fringed jackets.

Of course California girls are also supposed to be nature lovers, so it may have seemed odd to see so much fur on the Kors runway. But then again, this is Michael Kors and his brand of urban sophistication almost always includes fur. So yes, it was everywhere from tie-dye scarves to vests and shrugs.

Lovers of luxe will love the look of the smoke-colored fox cape—paired with cashmere sweatpants and a taupe mink popover also paired with cashmere sweatpants.

Clearly, in the Kors universe, relaxed and luxury go together in perfect, elegant harmony.

—Karyn D. Collins