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A private funeral and burial will be held for Joan Kors, who passed away at her home in Los Angeles. She was widely known in the fashion industry as the mother of designer Michael Kors, and her unique style and personality played a significant role in shaping his career. Kors, 84, died of heart failure in a peaceful manner, according to a spokesperson for the Michael Kors company.
Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, Kors started her modeling career at the age of 18, working in print advertising and runway shows. She became the house model at the House of Revlon in New York City. However, she left the modeling industry in the early 1960s to become a stay-at-home mother and homemaker. In the 1970s, she worked as an executive assistant at a law firm in New York before relocating to the West Coast in 1977 to pursue a career in the home textiles industry. There, she learned the business from her father and eventually started her own firm, manufacturing and designing decorative pillows, placemats, and napkins. Her collection, “At Home With Joan Kors,” was distributed to various specialty stores and department stores.
In the 1990s, Kors joined her son’s fashion firm as the West Coast brand ambassador after leaving the home textiles industry. She actively participated in events, trunk shows, and in-store functions, showcasing her support for her son’s brand. Terry Lundgren, a longtime retail leader, praised Joan Kors’s contributions to the industry and described her as “very chic” and constantly full of great ideas.
Joan Kors was a dedicated attendee at Michael Kors’ fashion shows and events, both in New York and Paris. As his career progressed, Michael Kors frequently expressed his adoration and gratitude for his mother, highlighting her influence on his life and career. Joan Kors supported him every step of the way, even allowing him to open a boutique in their home’s basement to sell his creations.
Many in the fashion industry paid tribute to Joan Kors, praising her warmth, style, and support for her son. She was remembered as a beacon of light, strength, grace, and kindness. Joan Kors’s impact on those around her was immense and contagious, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom, love, and radiant energy.
