Michael Kors Makes It Work
Everything's come up roses for Michael Kors is the theme of his profile in today's Times, which details how the designer has gone from surviving Chapter 11 in the '90s to being recognized by starstruck young girls in restaurants today. While quotes are wheeled out to testify to his talent—Bette Midler describes his clothes as "clean... but they have that little bit of edge," and Allure's Paul Cavaco says they're "chic but not neurotic"—reality TV is clearly responsible for making Kors the bankable brand he now is, a depressing indictment on the world we live in if ever there was one.
Though Kors' chief exec claims that his Project Runway fame translates into 5% of the company's sales—a figure conservative verging on ridiculous—sales at Bergdorf Goodman have risen by 50% in the past three years (Project Runway first aired at the end of '04). And if TV made Kors, TV will also confirm his ascent to the top of the fashion pile in the most unequivocal way: Yes, he'll be making a cameo in Gossip Girl.
