On September 11, 2019, hundreds gathered at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on the final day of New York Fashion Week, eagerly anticipating the new Michael Kors collection inspired by the American Dream.
Young People’s Chorus of New York City sings at the Michael Kors Spring 2020 Collection Runway Show during New York Fashion Week
YPC choristers pose with model Gigi Hadid after the Michael Kors Spring 2020 Collection Runway Show during New York Fashion Week
Accompanying the parade of models displaying Mr. Kors’s Americana designs, which he described as “a statement of possibility and optimism,” was the Young People’s Chorus of New York City conducted by Artistic Director Francisco Núñez, in a celebration-on-the-theme medley of some of the country’s most treasured standards, ranging from Don McLean’s “American Pie” and the O’Jays’s “Love Train,” to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.”
Watch the full runway show:
Press coverage round-up:
AP News: Michael Kors pays tribute to American style on 9/11
While the terrorist attack was not referenced, the show radiated not only American pride but themes of love and peace, from a sweater worn by a model that had the word “HATE” crossed out with a red line to the music of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, who serenaded the crowd with songs including Don McLean’s “American Pie” to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” to the O’Jays “Love Train.”
The Telegraph: Power shoulders and polka dots: Michael Kors does American Dream dressing
As the 9-11 sun sparkled through the skylights of the Duggal Garden Greenhouse in Brooklyn for Kors’ SS20 show, The Young People’s Chorus of New York City launched into American Pie. So strongly moving, no DJ needed.
The Washington Post: Michael Kors pays tribute to American style on 9/11
While the terrorist attack was not referenced, the show radiated not only American pride but themes of love and peace, from a sweater worn by a model that had the word “HATE” crossed out with a red line to the music of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, who serenaded the crowd with songs including Don McLean’s “American Pie” to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land” to the O’Jays “Love Train.”
The Times: New York Fashion Week: Kors checks out with a piece of cherry pie
“If you are having an American picnic you always have cherry pie,” Kors said before the show, a point underlined by the Young People’s Chorus of New York, who sang American Pie as the models walked the runway.
Marie Claire: Michael Kors Spring 2020 Show Was An Ode To Patriotism And Positivity
On a sun-dappled day in New York, the fashion pack made their way to a warehouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a sprawling World War II-era factory. As they took their seats, the Young People’s Chorus of New York City launched into a smooth rendition of “American Pie”.
Marie Claire: Every Outfit From Michael Kors’ Spring 2020 Runway Show
For his spring 2020 collection, Michael Kors drew inspiration from the 1940s. His show notes cited runway looks with “patriotic stars and stripes in prints and metallic accents,” which undoubtedly will make their way into retailers and into your hands. The music also tied the patriotic theme together; Kors had the Young People’s Chorus of New York City perform sings like “This Land Is Your Land,” “American Pie,” and “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” Standout pieces include studded skirts and a sweater with the word “hate” crossed out in red.
Yahoo! Lifestyle: Michael Kors Rejects Xenophobia & Trump-Era Divisive Politics With Spring 2020 Show
“This land is your land, this land is my land . . . from California to the New York island . . . from the Redwood Forest, to the gulf stream waters . . . this land was made for you and me,” were some of the words that accompanied Michael Kors’s spring 2020 collection down the runway. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City belted them — among other classic Americana songs — as 1940s–inspired looks strutted down the runway. The show was a celebration of what’s made the good ole USA great — inclusivity — and featured one particular cashmere sweater with the word “Hate” crossed out.
Wall Street Journal: The Hot Talk Off the Runway at Fashion Week: Tariffs
Though he wasn’t quite the last designer to show this week, Michael Kors seemed to be trying to sum the mood up – upliftingly – with a preppy collection that leaned heavily on red, white and blue as the Young People’s Chorus of New York City belted out a medleys of songs — “American Pie”, Simon and Garfunkle’s “America” — that left little doubt that Kors thinks America is already great.
The Cut: Marc Jacobs’s American Panorama
Michael Kors also delivered a powerful show around the themes of optimism and tolerance. Ordinarily, a Kors presentation is an upbeat, Top 40 occasion — and yesterday’s show, at the glass house at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, certainly caused you to tap your toe and perhaps even get misty-eyed when the Young People’s Chorus of New York City launched into Simon & Garfunkel.
Vancouver Sun: NYFW dispatch: A look ahead to spring 2020
Much to the delight of attendees, the Young People’s Chorus of New York City performed as the models paraded down the runway in tailored blazers, sparkle-adorned trousers, optimistic prints and more. Our editor’s eye was firmly affixed to the navy blue blazer with tiny gold anchors affixed to the sleeves. Talk about a statement blazer.