Michael Kors’ New Jewelry Line

Posted on Jul 26, 2011 in Fashion

Duchess Kors is launching a jewelry collection this fall in partnership with Fossil, Inc. We have formed opinions about it and we urge all our minions to do the same. Let’s take a look:

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In typical Kors fashion, the pieces are bold and mostly classic. He’s clearly working his way through a menswear moment, as several of these pieces evoke men’s watchbands and belts. And while we can mostly understand why someone would want a designer’s name emblazoned on a purse or pair of jeans, we can’t imagine why anyone would want to see it on a pair of earrings or a ring. That seems a bit egotistical. Put an MK logo up, Chanel-style, but don’t spell out the name like that. Borderline tacky. Still, some great-looking pieces. What do the bitter kittens think?

YEA or NAY: Michael Kors Jewelry?

[Photo Credit: michaelkors.com - Video Credit: jpalmuc via youtube.com]

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Anonymous

Belts for bracelets, bracelets for rings, It looks very 70′s to me. Remember those chunky ID bracelets and watch rings? I’m surprised he doesn’t have one made out of a bent spoon.
- http://twitter.com/ILikeShiny Cindi Williams
  
  Bent spoon? That was awesome!
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MNMVM2GPVUEIOJXBOSLCXKAW4U judy brown
  
  The ’70s was my thought exactly: of course bolstered by the disco boogie soundtrack.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MNMVM2GPVUEIOJXBOSLCXKAW4U judy brown
  
  Actually, the bent ailver fork as bracelet was even more common.
- Anonymous
  
  Bent spoons. Ah, memories.
- ezywonder
  
  The bent fork and spoon designs……omg you made me gag.
Anonymous

Boring
- Anonymous
  
  Agreed.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3CZLMF23GZPSGXUQUN4BRX5AEY Lani George

Leather manacles as jewelry? Ewww. Nay.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513945580 Megan Patterson
  
  Agreed.
- Jennifer Hofstetter
  
  That’s exactly what I was thinking! Nay for me as well.
- http://profiles.google.com/anplica Anplica Fiore
  
  But the first gold bracelet here would make a great accessory for that WonderWoman costume!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Micaela-Cannon/1465504041 Micaela Cannon

I say nay. I find this all to be kind of boring or borderline hiddy/tacky. I hate his watches too, but customers at my store are constantly looking at them and trying them on. I generally like MK’z clothes but his accessories are just not to my taste.
http://pleasewelcomeyourjudges.com/ Brian @ PWYJudges

The name all over everything was immediately off-putting, but there are some great pieces in there.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2CNDPMVO4W23R5TVC2QMTJ5BZE Heather

Not my style. Also, I’ve begun to refuse to wear things with boldly visible labels (even a purse or pair of jeans) – I refuse to be a walking billboard.
- http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
  
  Thank you!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513945580 Megan Patterson
  
  Even when I was a kid I found this really tacky, I still refuse to do it. You should by something because it’s beautiful and you love it, not because of the label.
- Anonymous
  
  They should pay me to advertise their stuff. I refuse to wear big logos.
- amanda crow
  
  Not meaning to be contrary, but I’m a little stymied by how to not wear an obvious label on a pair of jeans. Denim companies are pretty recognizable by their pocket designs, even the simplest ones (7 for all mankind, for example, has that pretty minimalistic “squiggle” on the pocket but is instantly recognizable.)
  
  Even lower-priced denim e.g. Abercrombie, Hollister, etc have branded pockets.
- http://profiles.google.com/mmara00 M M
  
  I absolutely agree. I am repelled by these otherwise nice looking bangles and bracelets. It just seems tacky to me when people choose to wear clothes with obvious logos as part of the design. Ugh, please don’t get me started…
aussiegal77

Most of the pieces looked lovely. Not really into the belt loop as bracelet thing he’s got going on and agree that the logo branding is a bit aggressive. Still though, it’s a good, classic collection and I could see my way to purchasing a couple of pieces from it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1248212910 Jessie Melcher Brown

Classic and well made (no doubt) but not new, not unique, and not interesting.
Nicole Chubb

Is Michael hungover in that video? What’s with the indoor sunglasses?
- Anonymous
  
  Maybe he was blinded by some of the stuff the new crop of PR designers are turning out.
Anonymous

the branding ruins it for me.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=668425491 Daniela ‘Dani’ Weiss-Bronstein

“Rock and roll equestrian”? Really? Some of the branding had me cringing. Some of the stuff is really nice, but nothing there was especially new, different, or unique. You can find similar pieces in many places.
Sarah Thomas

What jewelry?
scottyf

Really love the pieces.

But I think the Duchess has been spending a little too much time at the Leather Bar.
Anonymous

When I saw his name all over it, I lost what little interest I had. We’re not going steady here. In any event, none of it struck me as anything I would be willing to pay a Kors pricetag for.
http://www.facebook.com/WendyLKaufman Wendy Kaufman

Does indeed look very 70′s. I see 70′s “MIA” bracelet, ID bracelets, and a glorified Medic Alert bracelet in there. Only like the plane large cuff up top. The logos–especially the “signet ring”, I find just plain offensive.
- http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
  
  … and exactly what is the point of an ID bracelet with someone else’s name on it?????
  - Anonymous
    
    Well, when I was young (decades ago) the ID bracelet (someone else’s) was THE thing that meant you were going steady. I don’t want to go steady with MK though.
  - Anonymous
    
    I always think heavily “branded” names are the equivalent of purchasing an identity for the insecure (i.e., see all the Harley Davidson paraphenalia). So, wanna buy MK’s identity??
- http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
  
  … and exactly what is the point of an ID bracelet with someone else’s name on it?????
http://twitter.com/BMoke28 Bernadette Moke

I feel like I’ve seen it all before…
MilaXX

Eh’ it’s okay but not a must have. I’m not a superfan of the wonderwoman bracelest cause I don’t have the proportions for them & the belt like/menwear inspired are just okay. I’d prob buy earrings from MK before bracelets.
Anonymous

I confess to liking the sparklies bettern’ I like him. Sunglasses in an interview? Pshaw. Bleh. I really like the cuffs, though, can’t say ‘no’ to those. But as several have pointed out, there’s absolutely NOTHING original there, which is weird, given it’s supposed to be a collab with Fossil, and I think of Fossil as fresh and new and cheeky.
- Eclectic Mayhem
  
  I love your description of Fossil and adore their stuff too. I didn’t like any of this new jewelery line though – big out!
Anonymous

I’d wear most of these, even though I don’t wear a lot of gold. I like throwing on a bold necklace or bracelet with a simple outfit. These are good for quickly amping up a look.
Anonymous

The only piece I really like is the chunky gold ring with sort of interlocking rings (11th image down, I believe). Otherwise, all those pieces look like everything else out there. And I don’t like seeing his name all over everything–a more subtle branding would be better.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UCLO5V2YD36T7QMPKOC7YXPOFU Erica

I’m totally with you about the name thing. I think his name is too prominent on a lot of his accessories, and I can’t quite figure out why I feel that way, since I have Coach bags myself, so it’s not like I won’t walk around with an advertisement. Maybe it is the full name thing. The first two are pretty good–the rest are too mannish for my taste. Nay.
- Anonymous
  
  I think the difference is that Coach (and lots of other designers) have made their logo part of the design. Very different from stamping your full name all over everything.
- http://phantomminuet.blogspot.com/ MinAgain
  
  I stopped buying Coach when they outsourced to China, but still charged an exhorbitant price.
Anonymous

What’s the price point compared to others of the same quality?
http://bewarethespork.livejournal.com/ Jay

NAY. Most of it looks too gaudy/tacky/blingy for my tastes. If I’m wearing non-costume jewellery, I want it to look classic and understated, not bold and brassy.
- Anonymous
  
  I obviously don’t know for sure, but since it is fossil, i assume that it is costume. so even less of an excuse. Neigh!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1230057270 Allie Carter

I think the buckle ring is pretty cool. Everything else is kind of meh.
http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz

My thoughts exactly on the name bit. I like some of it though. But the belt buckle bracelets are a bit much. They would have to be a huge pain in the ass to wear. I guess on the whole I’ll have to say NAY, just because there’s more to dislike than like.

I do want that buckle ring with the golden topaz though. Unless you flip it over and there’s a giant MK.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1077090078 Megan Sullivan

A little boring, but I like them.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1077090078 Megan Sullivan

A little boring, but I like them.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QFW22QV426LUOEPGASPZJWJMDE MishaFoomin

The full name on the jewelry is very tacky indeed.
Anonymous

Like the background music in the second half of the video, most of these pieces seem so Seventies to me. Especially the mini-belts with buckles, the buckle rings, and the chain braceletes. I do like the plain cuffs, but there’s nothing new there. And I do not want to walk around with MICHAEL KORS stamped all over me. I’m not a Kors fan, but that isn’t it–I don’t want anyone’s name stamped all over me.

But what’s really making me back away from this collection is the interview. Egad! “A rock ‘n’ roll equestrian attitude”??? Dude — seriously? “If you can’t afford to collect sculpture or modern art, you can afford to have an incredible pair of silver cuffs.” Oh, please! That is ridiculous! And Michael, since you say the word about every five seconds, it’s pronounced JEW-’ll-ree, not JEWL-er-ee. That nearly drove me off the cliff.
- Anonymous
  
  Like the background music in the second half of the video, most of these pieces seem so Seventies to me.
  
  That music, I know! I kept expecting to see a montage of mustachioed detectives (one black, one white) hopping over cars, running from dogs, driving along Highway 1, flying in a helicopter over a bikini beach volleyball game. . .
- Anonymous
  
  “jewl-er-ee” – me too!
  
  as for the large name thing – he was one that liked “e sosa”!
Anonymous

I think he should stick to clothes. These are really one-note and boring. And I usually like “boring.”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nicole-Walraven/527225623 Nicole Walraven

ok the earrings with his name on them are intensely tacky. i can’t imagine even the most dedicated brand whore wanting to wear those. the rest of the pieces are kors to the core, beautiful, simple and expensive looking. i would wear most of them, although i wish his name wasn’t on every single bracelet. a person only needs to advertise so much. still a Yea though.
Alyssa Stanfield

The only one I like is the belt-ring. The rest are just meh.
Anonymous

I dislike seeing his name on the jewelry.
I dislike seeing a designer’s name on most anything. I’m reminded of Emilio Sosa.
Terence Ng

The leatherman in me thinks the cuffs are cute.
http://www.revivify.net Alex Smith

Nay. Not because of the styling, but because the only fresh idea here is a heightened level of egotism. You can get analogs of any of these from the vintage jewelry section on eBay with no ugly branding.
Anonymous

Overall, I was really blah about this (as I tend to be with a lot of his designs), but there was one piece that I immediately said “I want that!”

So, I say Yay.
Anonymous

Cuff bracelets are so 2010.
- margaret meyers
  
  They’re back in every 3 or 4 years.
http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

I like them. But I like a lot of MK’s stuff. I agree that the full name is a bit much, though.

Of course, I also don’t understand the name thing on any other piece of clothing. I mean, the argument for spending a fortune on designer clothes is that they’re so much better made — if so, shouldn’t that be apparent without a label?
http://twitter.com/velleitas Isy

I love MK bags but always pass them up because of the huge MK on all of them. Such a shame because they’re gorgeous. I feel the same way about the pieces with his logo on them. Branding like this is, in most cases, tacky and these being shiny AND branded make it doubly so. I really like the buckle ring, and that’s about it. Nay.
http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.parker Sara Parker

I would have liked a lot more of these if he hadn’t taken it to tacky-land by slapping his name on EVERYTHING.
I still like the belt ring, but everything else is a Nay.
Anonymous

Meh. I probably wouldn’t wear them.
Anonymous

I like the gold bangle bracelet. Very cute. It would be more timeless without the name on the piece, but I understand that when some people plonk down a lot of money for a designer accessory, they want everyone to know! How else can you explain logo bags?!
- Anonymous
  
  yup – people are paying huge bucks to be walking advertisements
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OSYAJATXUH3QX7ZDDF52GXG4PU Janie R

For Kah rying out loud! If I see another person jumping on the jewelry design bandwagon I’m going to scream!! I AM a bitter kitten!!
Anonymous

Looks like jewelry you buy at a department store. Yawn.
Anonymous

Some of it I would wear (if I were filthy rich and could afford it), but the huge chains? No gracias. I’m also in agreement with the person who refuses to be a walking billboard.
Anonymous

Nope, not loving these. Especially with the name written out on everything like that. They aren’t BAD, per se, but…definitely wouldn’t shell out for them.
http://phantomminuet.blogspot.com/ MinAgain

It’s not very interesting. The only thing that even piqued my interest was the copper colored band.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OO3AOEUL3EZ3OSKV2MKRCGHCYY KRISTI

It’s my kind of thing, if it didn’t advertise itself. That is tacky and unnecessary. I am bitter, bitter, bitter.
http://profiles.google.com/ellenbehm Ellen Behm

It’s the ID bracelet vibe that gives it a big ol’ NAY for me.
http://www.facebook.com/SuperHelen007 Helen Booth

Love it!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=167100010 Meghan Young

Bored. They’re boring. There are very few looks most of these would work with; seems like it’s designed basically to sell his menswear stuff right now. Great jewelry should work across a few looks, in my opinion.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=768540908 Badriya Al-Badi’a

The name plastering isn’t borderline tacky, it’s just plain tacky. It makes me think sales rack at Target.
Anonymous

Gee, I could probably unearth an ID bracelet for significantly less money. But in all seriousness, they look fine. I’m not a fan of the leather “manacle” style, but the other things look nice. I’m sure they’re out of my price range, but I won’t loose sleep over them.
Judy_J

He sure likes belt buckles, doesn’t he? I like the idea of mixing textures, and I really like the pieces done in rose gold, but I’m sure most of this (or possibly all of it) is out of my price range, so I’ll never be sporting the Kors jewelry.
Anonymous

Nay. Fossil, the watch company, making watch-band jewelry? Boring.
Anonymous

Nay. Fossil, the watch company, making watch-band jewelry? Boring.
http://profiles.google.com/mercbubble42 Jessica O’Connell

YEA for me. I don’t think it’s tacky to spell out the name – It works for Tiffany & Co.!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T53WBEPGJZ7MMMZC4O563YU5HA Observer

Lady Kors erred in deciding to tattoo the jewelery.
Anonymous

I’m underwhelmed.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=566983224 Erin Leahy

Snoozefest. gee, I’ve never seen a gold cuff or gold bangles before.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002351929256 Katie Lewis

Heavy, psuedo-ethnic cuff bracelets, chunky, almost masculine bracelets. Yawn. There are a few interesting pieces here, but nothing that I can’t buy at Cost Plus or Target for a tenth of the price. Of course, those pieces wouldn’t have the Michael Kors name on them.
Anonymous

I have collected buckle jewelry since the late 70s (a VERY small collection!). The buckle ring is a close copy of a piece I bought decades ago, except mine has diamond chips in the white gold buckle. The polished cuffs and link pieces don’t do it for me, but I’m glad to see Kors (or his designers) did some homework. Vintage costume jewelry is often pricey— and worth it. The craftsmanship and materials are typically superior to new pieces. And wearing so many heavy necklaces will give you an awful headache long before the evening is over.
http://twitter.com/GQueen GQueen

I agree, the name thing is tacky, but I absolutely covet that plain gold bangle and the copper belt ring. WANT.
Anonymous

Nay. Too much towards menswear in the bracelets, for sure. And what the hell, the bottom photo reminds me too much of the ID bracelets we were all wearing during the Vietnam War. I guess I just don’t like jewelry based on masculine forms; probably it’s because every work day I’m in the suit or sportswear that is already based on meanswear. I do like the cuffs featuring leather, and some of the rings – those without his name on them, that is. No way would I ever buy something with a designers name emblazoned on it. That is not BORDERING tacky, kittens, it IS tacky.

Plus, Michael, darling, it’s jew-el-ry, not jew-le-ry. And you should take off your sunglasses when plugging your stuff. How rude!
Anonymous

Pretty ordinary. Looks a lot like what I see in department stores. But I’m not a Kors fan.
http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash

bland bland bland. what gretchen was aiming for, w/ a frisson of the somewhat masculine.
Anonymous

I like the big bracelets. It’s like wearing a beer can.
margaret meyers

Everyone wears bracelets, and everyone falls back on a few that can be worn with a lot of things. I like the “boyfriend” looks of the 4, 5 and 6, but I feel like 1,2,3 and 7 are awfully familiar.
Anonymous

joolery.
Anonymous

My mom would love these. Pas pour moi, however.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jessica-TallGirl-Freeman/1043623567 Jessica TallGirl Freeman

I quite like everything but the leather pieces. I thought the same thing about the name instead of his logo.
Anonymous

The silver bracelet reminds me of when we junior high girls wore our boyfriend’s very similar silvery, chain ID bracelets as a sign of going steady. I don’t want to wear MK’s name. I like most of them (except the silver). The gold and leather faux belt is particularly fun.
Elena

I love a good belt bracelet.
http://profiles.google.com/jenlindsey Jen L.

I like the belt bangle. It’s simple, the MICHAEL KORS (I feel like you have to shout it, MICHAEL KORS!!) logo is tiny and discreet, and it looks vaguely Cartier-ish, with the screw-top studs. Everything else is not really to my taste, the scale is much too large and I would not be able to carry it off.
sandycord

Not really liking it!
Joyce VG

YEA! I’ll just skip the ones with his full name emblazoned on it.
Anonymous

He always loves texture on texture on texture? Then how come he clothes are pretty much the exact opposite?
It’s all too heavy and clunky for my taste.
But the real sin is the flashing neon “Michael Kors” on everything.
OUT.
Warmheartedgirl Seattle

Nay for me. It has all been done before, without his name all over it. The looks are pretty, but also pretty well covered. I prefer not to spend my hard earned money being his walking advertisement. I am sure the pricetag for these pieces is outrageous.
http://www.myblackfriendsays.com myblackfriendsays

I was thinking the same thing about the logo. I really like the bangles, but the name all over them is not cute.
Anonymous

I don’t even like a Chanel logo on my earrings. But then if I had a choice between any bag with a logo on it and a Bottega Veneta, I’d choose the latter.
Sara__B

I’d like the bracelets IF his name weren’t so prominent. No, I don’t want to wear Michael Kors’ name on my wrist!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lauren-Jean-St-Martin/504251897 Lauren Jean St. Martin

I say yea. The name isn’t HUGE, so its not that close to the line of tacky. However, lets say on that big Gold cuff in the first picture he had had his name stretched across the whole thing? Tacky and desperate.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C65IT4K6RYN4TWRMFJOI3VUDAI Olechka Milashka

Yay! I actually kind of love the gold-leather belt bracelet )
Anonymous

yaaaaawwwwnnnnn
Anonymous

Like it, but the name is too glaring to me, too.
Anonymous

I HATE the prominent placement of his full name on everything. The pieces themselves are alright, but I’m pretty bored.
Anonymous

Nay

The jewelery is ok, I guess…but his name being spelled out on each…no.

He looks like a fool in the sunglasses doing the commentary on the video…like he’s so edgy and trendy. lol
http://twitter.com/Unclassical Alexandria N

NAY. I will not be paying good money to advertise for them on my wrist/hand whatever
http://twitter.com/#!/Space_Kitty Space Kitty

Huh. Somehow I can’t bring myself to care.
Anonymous

Love the cuffs. YAY
http://twitter.com/democracydiva Democracy Diva

I don’t think anybody but Wonder Woman looks good in those cuff bracelets.
Anonymous

It’s all right. Better than Gretchen’s.
Anonymous

The prices aren’t bad. The belt ring is $45. Unfortunately, it only comes in size 6 or 7.

The stuff is not cheap, but it’s more affordable than I would have expected.

As for putting his name all over all of it? Tacky tacky tacky.

http://www.michaelkors.com/store/catalog/templates/SC3.jhtml?itemId=cat9901&parentId=cat145&masterId=cat000000
Julaine Morley

Yay to a few pieces: the pink gold belt-ring, the topaz (?)
baguette ring, the wide cuffs and the interlinked gold and tortoise shell (?)
bracelet. Otherwise, nothing exciting, and some remind me of dog
leashes/collars.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IHWCJIMARF4OOW6PQZQS3RFOOA JillK

I’m feeling snarky; blech.
Anique Ashraf

Any bracelet off the rack with a MK logo. Bah. Gretchen’s jewelery line was better, and that’s saying something.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000484988865 Patricia Steere

Like a lot but I’d NEVER buy, due to the logo. YUK.
http://profiles.google.com/dwight.lake Dwight Lake

I adore the first 5 you posted and the silver pendant. i don’t care if they are for girls i want them
Anonymous

The gold piece w/rivets is a clear rip-off of the Cartier Love bracelet. Kors should be ashamed of this gewgaw.
Anonymous

YEA. Very classic and versatile.
Anonymous

I vote yea. Not exciting, but classic designs – like most of the Fossil line.
Anonymous

NAY. Some of these pieces are nice, but too many of them remind me of what I was wearing 30 yrs. ago and I cannot get behind any of the pieces with his name on them. Tacky!
Anonymous

That is the most boring line of jewelery that I’ve ever seen.
Anonymous

There isn’t much here that looks, as Kors says (more or less) “classic but with a twist.” A lot of it is classic, as has been said above, it’s very 70′s, and I would not plunk down money to have MK’s name on my new jewelry. But I already own some high-quality costume jewelry in this style as well as several silver pieces. They’ll have to tide me over.

I like it, YEA. I just wonder if it ever becomes a chore to talk about your own line as if it was the coming of the Messiah when you know damn well it’s just a slight gloss on what’s been done before. (Not a snark at Kors more than anyone else, if they’re around long enough most designers visit this situation.)
Anonymous

Overall, I say ‘Yea’. Not a fan of visible labels, though.
sonictofu

Classic 80′s-ish luxe, not my thing, but I get it. The name on there makes it look so freakin’ Kohls.
Anonymous

That logo is beyond tacky. Won’t buy his accessories for the same reason. His style is allegedly understated American elegance. What is understated or elegant about a big fat Michael Kors emblazoned across any piece you wear?
http://chupatinja.wordpress.com Santa

YEA
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3AJ237ND3GAHDQJZ4TLCO4WLRA Emily

Yea. I like it.
Anonymous

yea! it is refreshing to see simple clean lines, often so hard to find in fashion..i do agree about the name slapping though, some sort of MK thingy would have been better… now where did i put my big leather cuff bracelet that i just knew would be more popular and less hippy one day?….(its still screams hippy but i love it anyway)….wait, i can say boho and then hippy is ok, right?
Lisa

Naaah… not loving it at all. It’s been done before, and he can do better – I have faith in The Duchess!

Of course the real insult is that he lowered himself to working with Fossil! *Fossil*!!! The worst, tackiest, cheaply-made crap in the world! What’s wrong, Michael – Claire’s Boutique wasn’t hiring?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Catherine-Rhodes/602850414 Catherine Rhodes

NAY
Patricia Biswanger

Too Monet-ish.

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