Designer Michael Kors Holds First Live Fashion Show Since Pandemic

Designer Michael Kors waves after presenting his collection during New York Fashion Week in New York, US, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Designer Michael Kors waves after presenting his collection during New York Fashion Week in New York, US, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
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Designer Michael Kors Holds First Live Fashion Show Since Pandemic

Designer Michael Kors waves after presenting his collection during New York Fashion Week in New York, US, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Designer Michael Kors waves after presenting his collection during New York Fashion Week in New York, US, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

Designer Michael Kors took over New York City's landmark Tavern on the Green in Central Park on Friday, his first live runway show since the pandemic began.

Although COVID-19 protocols restricted his guest list, Kors said it gave those in attendance an intimate experience.

"To be able to put on a live show to me is thrilling. I love people to be able to experience live fashion," said Kors, Reuters reported.

The brand required all guests to be double vaccinated, while staff, crews and press were given on-site testing before being admitted into the venue.

"Lots and lots of checking boxes and being so unbelievably strict with the protocols," he said.

Actress Kate Hudson, who is a friend of Kors, was thrilled to be at her first show in many months. "I'm so excited. And it's nice and small, intimate, which I think is going to be really lovely. But I haven't done this for a long time so it feels a little odd and wonderful all at the same time."

This season Kors decided to look at romance through a streamlined and urban lens. The New York native said his inspiration was not just romantic love, but love of friends, family, city, seeing people and more.

He said he created a collection that will help celebrate those moments that we've all been craving.

Models including Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner paraded through an outdoor garden, while Broadway star Ariana DeBose performed live.

Kors said the collection was filled with charm.

"Lots of black and white in the collection," the designer explained.

"A lot of gingham, which just puts a smile on my face, I'm not a picnic kind of guy, but I can have the fantasy. A lot of white embroidery, a lot of white laces and eyelet and things like that."

New York Fashion Week will end on Sept. 12.



Second-Hand Clothes App Vinted Reports Jump in Revenue and Profit 

Vinted plans to expand into more countries in 2025. (Getty Images)
Vinted plans to expand into more countries in 2025. (Getty Images)
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Second-Hand Clothes App Vinted Reports Jump in Revenue and Profit 

Vinted plans to expand into more countries in 2025. (Getty Images)
Vinted plans to expand into more countries in 2025. (Getty Images)

Vinted, an app where users buy and sell second-hand clothes, reported a 36% increase in revenue for 2024 on Tuesday and said it more than tripled its net profit, as more shoppers opt for cheaper used items instead of new.

Vinted has benefited as inflation-weary European consumers slashed their spending on clothing, and looked for new ways to make money by selling their own unwanted items.

Founded in Lithuania in 2008, Vinted reached profitability for the first time in 2023. It was valued at 5 billion euros ($5.69 billion) in a secondary share sale in October last year.

Vinted plans to expand into more countries in 2025, having launched in Croatia, Greece, and Ireland last year for a total of 22 markets in Europe.

Vinted started letting users buy and sell second-hand electronics on the platform in 2024, and said it would add more categories, though it is still mainly known for clothing.

Revenue for 2024 was 813.4 million euros ($925.89 million), up from 596.3 million euros in 2023, while net profit jumped 330% to 76.7 million euros.

Lithuania's first "unicorn", a term for a privately-held company with a valuation exceeding $1 billion, Vinted said it is launching an investment arm, Vinted Ventures, aimed at funding other second-hand retail startups.

Vinted Ventures will offer funding of between 500,000 euros and 10 million euros to Series A and Series C stage companies.