Michael Boris Quietly Styles The Women Of The Hudson Valley And Beyond

In an unassuming shop down at the river end of Hudson's Warren Street, couture fashion designer Michael Boris says he’s doing the best work of his celebrated career. But while his 40-plus-year career is celebrated madly by longtime clients — for creating designs that exude strength and grace for all women — he has remained mostly off the radar, proliferating and thriving in the industry without expending much-if-any energy on press or marketing. His garments are so good, it seems, these traditional avenues of self promotion just weren’t necessary. The Hudson store, for instance, has no website or internet presence at all.

Boris’s creations speak for themselves. Made in Manhattan’s garment district, his designs are styled with clean architectural lines and elegant flow. It’s an aesthetic balance heightened by Boris’s obsession with fabric quality and fabrication excellence.

“I have clients from 29 to 70,” Boris says. “When they wear something I’ve made I hope they feel as beautiful as they are – and wear it more than once!”

These are high-end items at high-end prices, but the designer and clients say you get what you pay for. “If you get it, you get it,” Boris says — a statement that kind of encapsulates his career. 

Boris grew up on a main drag in Poughkeepsie. The youngest of four brothers, he started making clothes as a child for his marionettes. When he was 17, his mother got him a sewing machine and that year he had outfits for sale on consignment at The Clothes Horse, then in the center of the city. In 1980 at the age of just 20 he opened his first shop in Poughkeepsie on Liberty Street. From the start his brand grew by word of mouth. A hairdresser friend and customer was seen in one of his dresses by actress and presenter Jayne Kennedy, who started wearing Michael Boris in NYC. The Rolodex began to grow quickly after that.

Three years later he opened his first shop on East 75th Street in Manhattan. In 1990 he opened a showroom on Lexington Avenue. A little later, he simultaneously began working on events with Neiman Marcus, which carried his line. While with the company he launched another store in San Francisco. Then, eight years ago he introduced yet another shop, just across the street from his Lexington showroom.

Boris opened his shop in Hudson six years ago and over the past few years, driven by a desire to simplify his life, he closed his other stores. Now 117 Warren Street is the only Michael Boris storefront in the world. It’s a humble atelier packed wall to wall with chic couture. 

Despite all the places he’s been, Boris says being from the Hudson Valley has always informed his work, and it’s special now to be back, at this new phase in his career.

“It’s helped me understand who my customers are,” he said. “I’m making this for real women — all types, all sizes. We are in a wonderful space here full of beautiful things. People are coming in from all over. I’m grateful.”

Rural Intelligence was given a tip that it should cover Boris by loyal customer Christine Brady, who enthusiastically praised his work. Again, word of mouth is spreading the luxurious secret that you can now shop for Michael Boris only in person, in Hudson.

Michael Boris
117 Warren Street, Hudson, NY
(917)-403-0478
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday