Michael Kors Spring Summer 2011 Show

As the rest of New York prepares for the coming gloomy winter months, Michael Kors imbues his Spring 2011 collection with the calm exhilaration of long summer days.

Kors cites his admiration of the “jugglers” -- the people who, seemingly effortlessly, balance careers with family with travel—as inspiration for his designs. These individuals, Kors tells us, are his favorite people to dress and he manages to seamlessly incorporate this appreciation in his creation of simple yet elegant pieces. Vibrant pops of yellow, green, and purple break up the streams of breezy tunics, roomy trousers, maxi dresses and trench coats appearing in shades of white and beige.

All sunshine state puns aside, Kors has managed to encapsulate why New Yorkers grudgingly admire about life in California: the sense of easy living and undemanding sophistication. While many designers have embraced the 1970s in their Spring 2011 collections, the real significance of Kors’s interpretation lies in his distinction between minimalism and simple chic – that is, a shift away from a sense of sacrifice towards the idea that unornamented, well-crafted silhouettes can stand alone. However, Kors has also demonstrated that while clothes should not hide behind excessive flourish, neither should simplicity come at the cost of good design.

Ultimately, Kors is preaching optimism and the attitude that yes, we can have it all -- with the right sunny mindset and a wardrobe to match.