Bells and whistles can mask many things in fashion

Bells and whistles can mask many things in fashion: sketchy tailoring, stale ideas and figure flaws. Simplicity done well, like Michael Kors turned out Wednesday at New York Fashion Week, means everything else has to be perfect.“It’s all about the way you cut it, the texture … You can’t hide behind ruching and ruffles. But I love simplicity when it’s right,” Kors said backstage just after the “Sunshine State of Mind”Michael kors outlet collection debuted on the runway. The words he used to describe the look that included a daffodil-yellow cashmere tank dress, a crinkly hemp linen tunic, a white gauze pullover and matching sarong skirt that looked like something the long, lithe model just tossed on in the casually chic way models often do.The fluid gabardine trench over a stone-colored pullover and floaty linen gauze skirt captured the easy elegance that editors, stylists and retailers are buzzing about as the big message from the spring collections, approaching their home stretch here and soon to move on to Europe.“The relaxed attitude of pajamas, robes, sarongs, tees and sweats bring the sexy ease of beach life to the city,” Kors said in his notes.The shoes were mostly flat buff-colored sandals. He said he was tired of seeing women in heels tucking an extra pair of shoes into their bags; the solution is stylish flats.Kors also shows menswear at his preview and some of the best looks were a navy linen suit, again with long lines, and a chunky, michael kors slightly askew cable-knit turtleneck.White and sand colors dominated the women’s clothes, but sunny garden shades — he called the bright pink “zinnia” and the green “grass” — infused the happy vibe that Kors typically trots out at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.The one questionable moment at this show was the “shredded-shrub” that might have mimicked the boxwood backdrop just a little too closely.