Socialites Shop for Lifestyles at Michael Kors' New SoHo Shop

Michael Kors knows a thing or two about self-promotion. His personal publicity from Project Runway may have created someone new for you to hate--but it created someone new! And last night he used his star-power to attract not just small-screen celebrities but bona fide New York socialites to toast his new SoHo boutique on Prince Street.

The 48-year-old father of the neon metallic sandal has decided to bill the joint “our first Lifestyle store,” but inhabiting the old Jerry’s restaurant as it does, the place really only has room enough for a few clunky bags, a rack of frocks and a gaggle of skinny socials.

Plus, Mr. Kors or someone he really trusts, has decided to erect a light outside powerful enough to illuminate an entire gate-side tarmac at J.F.K. (The folks at the neighboring Mercer Hotel must have forgotten to bring him a welcome pie.) In any case, Fabiola Beracasa, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer and Lauren duPont were all guests at the nighttime launch party. After wrapping up at the lifestyle shop, the V.I.P. core headed west, through the blinding fog of Mr. Kors’ hurricane lamp, to Raoul’s, where more than a few steak au poivres probably got stared down, then promptly cleared.

Click here to see photos of the event, courtesy of Park Avenue Peerage. (Ours, above, comes from shutterbugs over at Patrick McMullan's web site.)