‘Women who break rules intrigue me’: Michael Kors channels Gloria Steinem | New York fashion week
Gloria Steinem may, for most people, be known as a key figure in feminism. But she is also increasingly gaining a reputation as a style icon.
The latest evidence appeared around the hips of models at the Michael Kors show at New York fashion week on Wednesday. Many of them wore a version of the low-slung, decorated belt that has become a Steinem signature. It appeared over sweater dresses, flares and miniskirts.
Steinem’s belt, with its silver decoration, is often a concho – a design that has its roots in Navajo culture. In a steinem-style” data-link-name=”in body link”2015 interview with Lena Dunham, she named it as an element of her “power outfit” that she wears when she wants to feel like “a rad bitch”.
The majority of Kors’s show was less rad and more the refined and tasteful clothes appreciated by the discreetly wealthy women that make up his customer base.
There were long herringbone coats, skirt suits and trouser suits, as well as sequin dresses and glamorous evening coats. A colour scheme of brown, taupe, camel on cashmere and tailoring felt very Succession’s Shiv Roy.
At a press conference before the show, Kors displayed a mood board of references for the collection – featuring 1960s and 70s stars including Steinem plus Jane Fonda, Aretha Franklin, Yoko Ono and Cicely Tyson.
“The women who intrigued me then and still intrigue me today are the women who break the rules,” he said. “They’re strong, powerful, smart [but] they’re happy to admit that they love fashion.”
As well as learning about feminism through these famous women, Kors also had a lesson at home. His own mother was featured on the board – an athlete and feminist who once tried out for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“They said that they were