The style sensation that is Marc Jacobs began when 13-year-old Marc applied for a job at New York boutique Charivari.
“I told them I would work in the stockroom. I would do anything. And they wouldn’t have to pay me, he will later recall.
“I was 25 when I was twelve,” Jacobs later told Vogue.
Marc Jacobs is head designer of both the Marc Jacobs brand and a diffusion line, Marc by Marc Jacobs.
Marc at the beginning of his career
The American fashion designer studied at Parsons School of Design in New York and while there, he designed a collection of hand-knit sweaters.
He formed Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc with his long-term creative collaborator and business partner, Robert Duffy, in the mid-1980s.
In 1986, he launched his first collection under the Marc Jacobs name and in 1988, Jacobs became the youngest ever designer to be awarded the American fashion industry’s highest tribute: the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Perry Ellis Award for “New Fashion Talent”.
Naomi Campbell wearing an early Marc Jacobs design
This was a huge moment for the designer and on receiving the award he said, ““I’m very nervous, but I’m also, probably, the very most happiest person in the room.”
1989 was a big year for Jacobs as he hired Tom Ford to work on womenswear and launched his first collection for Perry Ellis, which incorporated the American flag as one of its main themes.
1993 saw Jacob Duffy Designs Inc launch their own design company: Marc Jacobs International Company, L.P.
Kristin Davis attending a Marc Jacobs fashion show
The year after, Jacobs launched his first collection of menswear and in 1997, he was appointed creative director of Louis Vuitton and he created the luxury brand’s first ready-to-wear line. He announced his departure from the brand in 2013.
Jacobs pictured at his final show for Louis Vuitton
2001 was the year Jacobs introduced his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs.
2005 was time to launch a line for children entitled Little Marc and in September of that year he was named as one of Vogue’s “Magnifient Seven” innovative designers.
He branched out in 2006, launching a range of perfumes. Although initially only sold in perfume boutiques, they are now widely available.
As well as his ready-to-wear line, range of scents and recently launched beauty collection, Marc Jacobs accessories are also very popular thanks to the clean designs and discreet luxury of his purses and bags.
The Marc Jacobs beauty line
His opulent ready-to-wear designs are truly gorgeous as can be seen below from…SWOON.
An example of his opulent ready to wear designs at the Spring Summer 2014 show
Marc Jacobs has more than a few celebrity friends, including Kate Moss, Sofia Coppola, Cara Delevigne and Miley Cyrus who recently featured in his 2014 spring summer collection.
Marc Jacobs and Kate Moss
He often opts for models who can carry off nonchalant chic: pairing basic flats with an opulent sweatshirt and high-end labels with flea market steals.
“Go out on the street—that’s how a stylish girl dresses,” Jacobs once said. “Fashion has to have irony right now.”
