Michael Kors speaks frankly on fashion at MET museum

At New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art -- and amid fur protests -- the American designer stepped into the hot seat to be interviewed by the former CNN host and answer questions that his followers tweeted in advance.

Kors's way with fashion and words is no secret, and true to form the master of cut and one-liners regaled guests at the MET's latest special Atelier with Alina Cho open door event on Wednesday evening.

The Long-Island born designer took guests through a slideshow trip down memory lane, spilling the beans on his 36-year career, beginning as a five-year-old advising his mother on the wedding dress he helped her design, to his role as a judge on "Project Runway," dressing America's First Lady and Asia's influence on the luxury business.

Kors appeared unflustered despite animal rights activists calling for action on the sidelines.

Talking on Asia's importance in business, Kors said it is important to "remember the best word in fashion is 'curiosity', so if you have a customer who is excited, inspired, enthused and curious isn't that the best business opportunity?", adding that he is witnessing "less variance from region to region."

When questioned over his decision to dress Melania Trump, Kors slick response was: "what we have to remember is that that my customers are opinionated."

Kors looked back at his first appearance at the annual MET gala in 1980, explaining how he "borrowed a tux and wore a silver leather down jacket that I designed".

New York's illustrious fashion museum is currently hosting a retrospective on Rei Kawakubo/ Comme des Garçons, an exhibit Kors deemed "mind-boggling."

Kors is clearly in awe of his Japanese counterpart's work -- which he finds particularly "remarkable," questioning just how packable, walkable and sittable Kawakubo's aesthetic is, and saying it is created in a "very different fashion sphere."

Kors' talk is the third in The Atelier series where fashion visionaries speak out on the fashion industry, art, and personal topics.

Followers of fashion can seal their spot by purchasing tickets at the Great Hall Box Office or online for 40$ via: www.metmuseum.org/tickets #sthash.A6L4XPny.dpuf

Alina Cho's previous guests have included Alber Elbaz, Diane von Furstenberg, Olivier Rousteing, Donatella Versace, Alexander Wang, and Anna Wintour.

Michael Kors was awarded the 2010 CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award, is an Ambassador Against Hunger for World Food Programme and was Time Magazine's one of the year's 100 most influential people in 2013.