Some campaigns blur the line between fashion and film—and Michael Kors’ Fall 2025 story does exactly that. At its center is Suki Waterhouse, who takes a single morning in Rome and spins it into a full-length daydream.
Wrapped in a robe, sunglasses perched on her nose, breakfast only half-eaten, and a sleek black bag casually by her side, Waterhouse looks less like a guest and more like the star of a screenplay. The setting? The Grand Hotel Plaza, just steps from the Spanish Steps, where old-world grandeur collides with modern edge.
The Cinematic Setting
Shot by Lachlan Bailey and styled by Emmanuelle Alt, the campaign unfolds like a film reel. From hotel suites to cobblestone streets, Rome is as much a character in the story as Waterhouse herself. The backdrops—ornate fountains, sweeping balconies, timeworn stone—frame the collection in a way that feels both timeless and unexpected.
Kors himself has described Rome as cinematic, dramatic, and pulsing. These images capture all of that: a city with layers of history, brought to life in flashes of leather, fringe, and light.
Suki Waterhouse: Rock Star Off-Duty Meets Roman Goddess
There’s a duality to Waterhouse’s presence that feels magnetic. With her signature tousled bangs and irreverent charm, she struts through Rome in thigh-high fringe boots, a chocolate-brown dress trailing like a shadow. She is equal parts grounded and untouchable—like a rock star on a Roman holiday, or a goddess who slipped off her pedestal for the weekend.
This mood continues throughout the campaign. On one hand, she’s draped across hotel sheets, a study in undone glamour. On the other, she’s moving through the streets with purpose, turning each corner into a runway.
The Clothes Do the Talking
As always with Michael Kors, the narrative is told through the clothes. This season is about contrasts—pieces that feel lived-in yet unmistakably luxe.
- Oversized shaggy jackets that wrap around like armor against the city chill.
- Slick leather pieces that gleam under Roman light, commanding attention with every step.
- Sheer tights that hint at delicacy beneath layers of strength.
- Thigh-high fringe boots that transform every stride into choreography.
And, of course, the accessories: standout bags that punctuate each frame. The reimagined Nolita and Hamilton bags appear in bold black and rich tones, anchoring the looks with sculptural lines and timeless polish.
Each ensemble reads like a declaration—main character energy, expressed in texture, shape, and attitude.
Reviving “Hotel Stories”
This campaign also marks the revival of Michael Kors’ beloved “Hotel Stories” series, a concept that blends fashion with destination storytelling. Past chapters have played with the intimacy of private spaces, the intrigue of travel, and the glamour that comes from inhabiting a place in transition.
Here, Rome is the perfect stage. The hotel suite becomes a sanctuary, the streets a catwalk, and every fountain or balcony a set piece. It’s a reminder that the right outfit doesn’t just dress a moment—it creates it.
Fashion as Daydream
What makes this campaign resonate is its sense of dreamlike possibility. The images don’t feel staged so much as captured in motion, like stills from a film you can’t stop replaying. There’s a looseness to the way Waterhouse leans on a balcony railing, or the way fringe sways mid-stride.
It’s aspirational, yes, but it’s also relatable. Who hasn’t wanted to slip into a city and feel like the world is watching, even if just for a moment? Michael Kors gives that fantasy form, wrapping it in leather, suede, and cinematic light.
Why It Works
Fashion campaigns often aim for drama, but few achieve the balance of grit and glamour on display here. By grounding luxury in the tactile realities of travel—hotel linens, cobblestones, the weight of a bag—the collection feels accessible while still aspirational.
Suki Waterhouse embodies this tension perfectly: playful yet commanding, undone yet polished. She doesn’t just wear the clothes; she animates them. Rome, in turn, becomes not just a backdrop but a mirror of the collection’s themes—historic yet alive, iconic yet endlessly reimagined.
The Fall Mood
As the season shifts, the Michael Kors Fall 2025 campaign feels like a manifesto: fashion should be cinematic, personal, and bold enough to take up space. It’s about stepping into the day as though you’re stepping onto a set, whether you’re wrapped in a shaggy coat or slinging a Nolita bag over your shoulder.
And just like that, fall feels more than stylish—it feels iconic.
