Michael Kors A/W 2018

Scene setting: It was a playful, lighthearted affair at Michael Kors this season. The veteran designer invited guests to the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Centre for his runway presentation, but instead of being inside the theatre, guests were seated in the elegant Christopher Lightfoot Walker Lobby — which mixed white walls, concrete ceilings and polished brass, as designed by Eero Saarinen. With playbill posters printed with a joyful caricature of Kors on the cover, there was a clear carefree tone set from the get go.

Mood board: With a heady dose of wallpaper florals, retro plaids, bright tracksuits and ladylike tailoring, Kors’ latest collection encouraged a youthful individualism. Mix and matched elements, like clashing prints, structure and loungewear, teamed with girlish hair accessories, extra long scarves and tweed rain hats, came together for a quirky look that wouldn’t seem amiss in the Upper West Side environs.

Best in show: Filled with fun, wearable pieces, Kors did what he always does best — deliver a chic, cheerful collection that plays towards a fantasy of how life should be. This included a special collaboration with the artist David Downton on a portrait-focused print that took over a strapless dress and some accessories for a Warholian feel. Rounded out by a mix of candy-coloured faux fur coats and nerdy argyle knits, the eclectic collection was a vibrant burst of confidence and individualism — a personification of New York City, admitted Kors.