Image from Style.com. See full Marc by Marc Jacobs F/W 11 collection at Style.com.
The day after Marc Jacobs presented a series of show-stoppingly fetishistic and restrictive looks for his main collection, his Marc by Marc Jacobs outing went the opposite direction with plenty of volume. There was a distinct ’70s feel, with calf-length skirts and shiny leopard prints for the girls and Love Story-style turtlenecks and wide-leg trousers for the boys. Many of the pieces had a disco-era shimmer, and the many looks in rich, autumnal colors were topped off with sunglasses that would not have been out of place at Studio 54. Jacobs’ designs for Marc by Marc are often criticized for lacking the outrageous artistry of those he crafts for his namesake label and Louis Vuitton, but there was a clear vision and aesthetic in these effortlessly wearable pieces. This was one of the most unified collections we have seen from Marc by Marc in many seasons, tightly edited and obviously focused. There was something very mature about the demure wrap dresses and velvet blazers Jacobs sent out, a distillation of the polished, grown-up sensibility we’ve seen everywhere this season. It’s a clear sign of the times when even the cool kids’ favorite brand adds this much sophistication to its usual unfussy sangfroid.
