Marc Jacobs, NY Fashion Week Stunner

I left Marc Jacobs as the last show of Day 4 to review, to avoid the (hopefully) inevitable disinterest I'd feel toward the other collections if viewed afterward. In other words, I was reserving it as the day's (and possibly the week's) equivalent to a Fourth of July fireworks finale. I avoided reading the reviews in favour of a spontaneous and honest assessment (and it's more fun that way).

Then the moment came. My first impression was 'Huh. Oh. Oh?' My mind was a bit of a blank slate as I clicked each look, not really taking in what I was seeing. Scanning the looks from the other shows, I was able to decide in about one second if I liked them or not, then either saving or moving on. Ideas were relatively straightforward and therefore easy to digest at a glance. But this approach didn't work for what Marc Jacobs had created and therefore slid off my brain for the first run-through.

Have you ever looked at something or listened to music and felt there was something special but didn't know what to do with it at first? This tends to occur when we're challenged to think beyond our comfort zone of familiar territory. And either we embrace it or we chuck it. I sensed this was one of those 'embrace' moments and therefore I had to forget the old template checklist of 'pretty? beautiful? wearable? make me happy and change my life for the better?' tick boxes in favour of a new one that was being defined by the subject itself.

The collection began to filter through a few looks at a time. Marc Jacobs' elaborate mixing of textures, fabrics and influences were starting to clarify - it was sinking in. These outfits are composed of many elements, and of those, many that would normally have nothing to do with one another - plaids, gingham, geisha, 1920s, metallics, jersey, prints, tweed, silks, patent leather, embroidery - yet somehow it worked. By the second look through, it was apparent that this collection is about pieces. I doubt Marc Jacobs envisions women walking around the streets looking exactly like this (in his fantasy world, yes, but in reality, no). He knows what women want and in this case he may have known before some of us would. Dissect the outfits into individual pieces and you've got endless options to play with, nevermind the exciting new ideas for accessorising.

This is a collection to make your own. It will be very interesting to see what the high street makes of it. I guess we'll find out soon. Coming up - the Marc by Marc Jacobs show. What a great week.

 

 

Photos: Style.com