Cliff Notes

On the road again: Michael Kors is out of Africa; Tory Burch discovers Deauvillein fashion fantasies

Michael Kors hand-dyed scarf dress
The first look from Michael Kors spring 2012 collection: She's wearing ahand-dyed linen serape, cashmere henley and shorts; he's in a linen tank andpant with leather travel bag.
Michael Douglas, left, at Michael Kors
Photo by Clifford Pugh
Tory Burch ackowledges the audience at the end of her first runway show.
Photo by Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Tory Burch layered chiffon jacket with fringe detail, sleeveless silk top withembellished detail and fringe trim, ribbed knit short
Photo by Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Michael Kors leopard hand-painted shift
Michael Kors impala/python print maillot
Tory Burch linen jersey striped shirt with peony print lame dickie, cottoncrochet Bermuda short
Photo by Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

NEW YORK — One nice thing about Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week: You can see the world without leaving Lincoln Center. Designers often weave a world of fantasy on the runway, taking onlookers to far-off places. Particularly in these tough times, a little bit of imagination seems to go a long way.

Michael Kors, who consistently puts on one of fashion week's most entertaining shows, went out of Africa with his spring 2012 collection. From the first look — a couple with a lust to roam the globe in khaki clothes, a serape and woven travel bag — to the last — a flowing olive tie-dye gown — Kors created a sense of adventure and opportunity.

The theme fit in perfectly with the launch of Destination Kors, the designer's new website that combines glossy features on travel, culture and fashion with e-commerce. It debuted last week.

“You are the most glamorous, sexy couple in safari history,” a backstage sign instructed models before they hit the runway. “Brad and Angelina are jealous of you.”

The designer has made three recent trips to Africa and in his program notes, he made reference to Lebombo Lodge in Kruger National Park. The show featured animal prints (leopard, tiger, python and zebra), along with caftans in the hues of a glorious setting sun and leather utility jackets suited for your next safari.

“You are the most glamorous, sexy couple in safari history,” a backstage sign instructed models before they hit the runway. “Brad and Angelina are jealous of you.”

Each model, indeed, walked confidently on the catwalk, aided by diffused runway lighting. Was it my imagination or was the show lit to put everything into a golden glow?

One of the few major designers to feature men and women's clothing at fashion week, Kors showcased utility pants, henleys, sarongs and linen anoraks for him and blanket dresses, ponchos, patchwork shifts and feathered dresses for her in this casual collection. It was quite a contrast to his last show, which celebrated his 30th anniversary in the fashion business with a glittering homage to his Studio 54 disco days.

But that's the beauty of fashion — designers are free to reinvent themselves every few months.

By the time the show had ended with Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" as the models — and Kors — took their final runway walk, I was ready to trade in my frequent flyer miles for an overseas jaunt.

In the audience: Actress Zoe Saldana, model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, singer Courtney Love and a fit-looking Michael Douglas, who told reporters he felt great after his recent treatment for cancer.

Tory Burch's runway debut

It's usually hard to get the fashion crowd to a 9 a.m. show, but the glass-walled foyer at Alice Tully Center was packed to capacity for Tory Burch's first runway outing.

In the fashion world, most new designers show their collections in a presentation situation, where models pose while onlookers walk around to view the clothing. It's quicker for buyers and the fashion press to get in and out and the cost of putting it on is much cheaper than a runway show.

But if you want to raise it to the next level, a full-scale runway show is required.

Burch, too, has a wanderlust, so she looked to the French seaside resort of Deauville in the 1920s and Pablo Picasso's painting, The Bathers.

Burch is certainly at that level, with a business that has exploded since she started it seven years ago. Originally built on ballet flats and tunics that caught the eye of America's tastemaker, Oprah Winfrey, Tory Burch is now a lifestyle brand, with 56 stores around the world, including a glittering new flagship in New York, and more on the way.

Burch, too, has a wanderlust, so she looked to the French seaside resort of Deauville in the 1920s and Pablo Picasso's painting, The Bathers. The languid collection featured Chanel-like tweed jackets, dresses in collage prints of silky crepe de chine fabric, ribbed knit cardigans and silk sweatshirts discreetly marked with the Tory Burch logo at the bottom edge.

For a first runway show, a new designer often experiments with out-there fashion meant to impress editors of the fashion magazines, but every look Burch sent out is wearable and will likely end up for sale in stores. For the first time, she played raffia, dotting a skirt, dress and jacket with the palm frond from the island of Madagascar, and added fringe detail to skirts and jackets, but managed to make the items fresh yet enticing for her customer.

Burch also veered into evening looks, with several silk chiffon gowns in seafoam, blush and coral shades. They will be available only at her flagship store on Madison Avenue. But the way her line continues to grow, I wouldn't be surprised to see them everywhere before too long.

unspecified

HOTTEST HEADLINES OF 2025

Celeb's Texas-sized ring dazzles in our top 10 fashion stories of 2025

Photo courtesy of Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott's million dollar engagement ring crafted by a Houston jeweler tops Houston's most-read fashion articles of 2025.

Editor’s note: Houston’s shopping and style scene delivered plenty to talk about this year, with headline-making jewels, must-have accessories, major retail moves, and Texas-sized collaborations. Readers couldn’t get enough of a million-dollar pink diamond crafted by a Houston jeweler for Zac Brown and Kendra Scott, the Labubu frenzy, and the arrival of luxury brands in River Oaks District. New flagships from beloved Texas brands, summer shopping guides, and the return of the Nutcracker Market, along with news of a Macy’s local closure also topped the year's must-read articles. Here's a look back at the stories that captured the Bayou City's love of luxury, hometown pride, and constantly changing retail landscape.

1. Houston jeweler supplies star Zac Brown with a Texas-sized diamond ring. Country superstar Zac Brown popped the question to billionaire jewelry mogul Kendra Scott with a one-of-a-kind creation from Houston jeweler Valobra Master Jewelers. The jaw-dropping 3.06 carat fancy pink diamond (GIA certified, VVS2 clarity) was set in platinum gold and surrounded by 28 baguette-cut white diamonds totaling 3.17 carats. The jeweler wouldn't comment on the price, but it would surely retail for over $1 million.

2. Loveable Labubu: Where to find the must-have fashion accessory in Houston. Love them or hate them, these tiny monsters broke the internet with the April release of Big Into Energy Labubu. Lucky Houstonians who were able to buy one online flocked to area stores in Sugar Land and The Woodlands for their pick-up-only purchases.

3. 2 luxury jewelers unveil flagship boutiques in River Oaks District. With VIP salons, ornate decor, and luxury jewelry, two French jewelry houses made an entrance in River Oaks District this summer. Joining the neighborhood's luxury lineup, shoppers can now buy their baubles from Cartier and Van Cleef.

4. Colorful Texas handbag maker opens new flagship store in Katy. Popular handbag brand Consuela opened its first Houston-area store at La Centerra in Cinco Ranch, Katy. Shoppers can now get their hands on the bold, colorful printed bags and accessories without a long drive or an online checkout.

5. Macy's to shutter dozens of stores nationwide, including 1 in Houston. As part of a strategy to make Macy's profitable again, the store shuttered six Texas stores, including a longtime location at Almeda Mall. Five DFW stores also went dark, and by early 2026, the retailer will have closed 150 "unproductive" locations nationwide.

6. Where to shop right now: 12 Houston shops with fresh summer finds. Amid back-to-school shopping and the August 8 sales tax holiday, Houstonians were especially interested in where to find the best deals at local retailers, including Chloe Dao, Mejuri, Reformation, Abejas Boutique, and more.

7. Houston bootmaker offers $5,000 cowboy boot and gator hunt adventure. For $5,000, Houstonians can now source an alligator hide near Anahuac that will be transformed into a pair of bespoke cowboy boots by Republic Boot Company.

8. What to know about the return of Houston's Nutcracker Market for 2025. The Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market is one of the most highly anticipated shopping events of the year. This year's market welcomed 40 new vendors and over 100,000 shoppers, with ticket sales exceeding $24 million. Over $6 million went directly to support Houston Ballet, its academy, and scholarship programs.

9. Texas brand Lucchese launches UT Longhorns collection with boots and more. Storied Texas bootmaker Lucchese released a collaboration with the University of Texas featuring two men's styles and three women's styles. The lineup pairs white and cream colored leather with burnt orange accents as a nod to Longhorn pride.

10. Whataburger partners with Texas activewear brand for new capsule collection. Whataburger tapped Austin-based activewear brand Burlebo for a capsule collection just in time for Father's Day. The line included caps, infant onesies, and shirts available in three different patterns.

kendra scott engagement river oaks district labubu whataburger clothes nutcracker market 2025 zac brown engagement ring most popular stories