Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2019 Ready-to-Wear Review
Since Raf Simons’ exit at Calvin Klein almost two months ago, international fashion reporters were afraid that New York Fashion Week would be completely dead, with no creativity or sense of mentally stimulating clothes. There still exists Marc Jacobs, however. Providing the luxurious and divine clothes that comes from a well-established brand, and the creativity of a great design genius who hasn’t diluted his vision just to make more money. That’s why Marc Jacobs is quintessential New York as it should be. Thankfully, there’s a burgeoning new crowd of young talent that is presenting at NYFW and isn’t afraid to be flamboyant. These designers included Gypsy Sport, Vaquera, and Christian Cowan, just to name a few.
This Fall collection had wonderful, couture-like flourishes to otherwise very commercial clothes. Long and flowing capes and draping gowns were incrusted with Swarovski crystals and feathers. Romantic, almost Gothic floral prints were splashed on 1960’s and 1970’s cut prairie day dresses. The whole collection pulled from Yves Saint Laurent and his Rive Gauche line of the era, street clothes that were fabulous and stylistically boundary pushing. This could be seen in the first cheetah print cape paired with wide pinstriped trousers and buttery brown leather boots.
The collection had its fun accessories with Stephen Jones’ knit beanies embellished with black cock feather plumes. The plumage extended to collars over Le Smoking suits and over entire floor length gowns. Each piece from this collection looks very desirable and fantastic, if not a little expected. Unfortunately, it’s nothing never seen before. Though Marc Jacobs isn’t expected to be making the most avant-garde fashion in the world right now; he still has to support his business by selling easily digestible clothes to women who can’t look too crazy. However, it is Jacobs’ responsibility to create something new every season. Most of this collection is to be expected from the label which is fine. There were certainly highlights, certainly more flamboyance and fun than most designers can show in New York, but is it still too safe? Maybe Raf Simons left too big of a hole in New York Fashion Week, but that’s not Marc Jacobs’ fault.