Fashion Designer Profile: Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs was born in New York in 1960, the son of two theatrical agents. His father died when he was only 7 years old. He went to live with his grandmother, who taught him how to knit. He attended Parsons School of Design, and in his final year (1984) created a collection of handknit sweaters (made by his grandmother) which won him the Perry Ellis Golden Thimble award. He spent his formative years shuttling between school and Studio 54, the Manhattan Disco.

After graduating, he designed under his own label for two years, creating irreverent take-offs of 60's hippie style clothing and versions of patchwork and gingham.

In 1984, he became the youngest designer ever to be awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America's prize for new talent.

In 1988, he joined PERRY ELLIS where he became known for a youthful, witty style which showed confident use of colour and spare silhouettes. He created a red and white tablecloth check ensemble embroidered with black ants, and a Freudian 'slip' imprinted with Freud's face. He was also well-known for his 1992 'grunge' collection which in fact caused he and Perry Ellis to part company.

He left Perry Ellis in 1993, He went back todesigning under his own label. He favours sensuous fabrics such as angora, cashmere and mohair and will occasionally surprise with neon rubber separates and laminated sequined jeans. In 1997, he was voted Womenswear Designer of the Year by the CFDA.

In 1997, he won the design job at Louis Vuitton, the elegant French luggage maker. He has introduced modern pop and kisch into their sedate image. Stella Tennant, fashion model, said "Marc's shows are always fun to do - and I love his clothes."

He also makes what the New York Times calls his 'caviar clothes' for the up market women. Rich women in the 30's are attracted to his witty update of the Vuitton brand that has been carried by generations before them.

Robert Duffy is Jacobs business partner, who has worked with him from his earliest days at Perry Ellis. Louis Vuitton is owned by LVMH of Arnault Bernard, the same owner of Givenchy and Dior. LVMH appointed Jacobs to the helm of Vuitton giving him responsibility for launching the ready-to-wear collections, and adding new accessories to the existing lines.

Marc Jacobs has now moved to Paris, although he prefers working in his New York studio. His Paris studio is just steps away from the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral. He says "Paris is a splendid city but it lacks New York's energy, it has no youth culture."

Marc Jacobs is just the person to propel the 154 year old company into the future. Vuitton, an impeccable but rather conservative leather-goods house, is now one of the world's most sought-after fashion labels.

In the year 2000/2002, the city of New York decided to honour 24 American fashion designers by placing bronze plaques along the pavement of 7th Avenue, the great street of fashion in New York. This has been called the "FASHION WALK OF FAME." Marc Jacobs was one of those honoured with a plaque.

Spring/Summer 2003

  • Marc showed his own Spring/Summer 2003 collection at the New York Fashion Week in September 2002, which was greeted with aclaim.
  • He had a 1950's theme, with lady-like dresses and pencil slim skirts and gave some dresses a sly sexy lingerie look.

    Autumn/Winter 2003 Ready-to-Wear
    New York - February 2003

  • This season Marc was feeling very mod. He showed a colour-splashed ode to pop and the 60's Courreges space-age designs. Minidresses and jumpers in patchwork came dashing down the runway. Silver fur-trimmed parkas and boxy wool jackets are this seasons must-have outerwear. Even his evening gowns were cheerful and chock-full of energy and colour.

    Spring/Summer 2004

  • Marc Jacobs's collection for this season was shown during New York Fashion Week in September 2003.
  • He carried on the romance with the fifties, opening with cotton suits with cropped trousers or rolled-up shorts. He followed with a selection of sun-bleached floral patterned dresses. There was a touch of twenties flapper glamour in jeweled chiffon minidresses.
  • If you would like to see the reviews and pictures of Marc's collection for Louis Vuitton, click here.

    New Face

  • It has been announced the Juergen Teller, the famous photographer, has shot the next set of Jacobs ads using the face of British actress Charlotte Rampling.

    Fall/Winter 2004

  • The Fall collection was shown during New York Fashion Week in February 2004. Marc is the favourite not only in New York, but for the whole world. His pastel coloured tweed coats, his printed and pin-tucked silk blouses, lace-covered dresses all in superb fabrics and whispery soft colours made the audience rave. His evening gowns were tumbling cascades of chiffon in jewel tones.

    Oscar Night February 2004

  • Sophia Coppola was the first American woman nominated for the Best Director Academy Award. She lost that, but won the Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay for her film "Lost in Translation".

    Staying with LVMH

  • In May, Marc Jacobs confirmed that he had signed a new contract with LVMH for ten years. He issued an emotional statement that Bernard Arnault had helped him considerably and his loyalty was never in question. We will therefore be seeing his designs at Louis Vuitton for many years to come.
  • In August 2004, Marc celebrated the opening of his latest US store in Boston. The theme was the Olympics which were going on at the time, and Marc himself was decked out in fencing kit. This year he will open stores in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Chicago.

    Spring/Summer 2005

  • During New York Fashion Week in September 2004, Marc Jacobs presented his Spring collection.
  • His usual front row full of celebrities greeted a collection of eye-delighting colours like parrot blue, azure, hot pink and purple (sometimes in the same outfit) on first-rate sportswear which will be seen on the streets next spring. For parties, he went for shredded and stitched organza ruffle dresses, decoated so densely that looked like the plumage of a bird of paradise.
  • In early October, Jacobs presented the collection for Spring 2005 for the house of Louis Vuitton.

    Perfumes

  • 2001 - Marc Jacobs (W)
  • 2002 - Marc Jacobs (M)
  • 2003 - arc Jacobs Essence (W)
  • 2004 - Marc Jacobs Blush (W)


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