Michael Boris claims he knew that he wanted to design since the age of 6. Though he never studied fashion design, he did win a scholarship to New York City’s Trap Hagen School of Design where he studied illustration and at the ripe age of 20 (he is now 43), opened his first clothing store in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Though he currently owns and operates a business located at 16 east 79th street (212 452 0138 by appointment only), and a store in Rhinebeck, it seems likely that his presence will also be felt at retail. Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus, in addition to a select group from the press- and of course his customers- were on hand at an informal cocktail party and showing of his spring/summer 2003 collection, which took place in the modern, art filled Park Avenue apartment of one of his customers. It was a treat, and oh so civilized, and was the perfect venue for his elegant, classic designs that as he admits, are not necessarily “reinventing the wheel.” And that is not his aim. His aim is to make “beautiful clothing.”
It is also not cheap. Prices retail from about $690 for a blouse and $4800 for a dress, and go higher for select items. It was fun seeing past modeling stars like Liz Lee and Marianna (still looking beautiful as always) and standouts included the white wool gabardine trench coat photo with black skirt, a silk toile jacket worn with corset top and black gabardine trousers, a brocade mandarin collar crop top shown with a brown organza cargo pant photo, and the white stretch cotton fitted shirt with olive double faced satin skirt with cargo pockets (see photo at top).
The models also wore some simply stunning diamond & sapphire jewelry provided for the show by the Vivid Collection, 592 Fifth Avenue. One necklace alone was valued at over a million dollars. Publicity for the event was handled ably by Ian MacKintosh and his staff of ILIAD Communications & Production.
