Stars and Stripes
At Marc by Marc Jacobs runway show, Elvis has not left the building
NEW YORK — The Marc by Marc spring 2014 collection has a bit of a '50s rockabilly vibe, so why is it not surprising that a model wearing a loose black shirt emblazoned with stars, white tuxedo pants, and a guitar pick necklace is named Elvis?
It's just one of the quirky features that designer Marc Jacobs slipped into his show held in a dark unairconditioned building near the Hudson River on one of the year's hottest days. (As wealthy as Jacobs is, you'd think he'd have a contingency plan to furnish some big fans, but the young audience sweated through a 30-minute wait for the show to start with minimal complaints.)
A big flagship Marc by Marc store on Fifth Avenue is planned to open next year and I'm betting it's only a matter of time before he opens boutiques in Texas.
With 200 stores in more than 80 countries, the Marc by Marc line aimed at stylish young adults is the cash cow that drives the designer's burgeoning empire. A big flagship store on Fifth Avenue is planned to open next year and I'm betting it's only a matter of time before he opens boutiques in Texas.
It's easy to see why his clothes have such appeal for the image-conscious teen and young adult who doesn't want to look like he or she is trying too hard. For spring, Jacobs is in a party mood with lots of too-cool satin tuxedo coats with contrasting lapels for guys and dresses, rompers and jumpsuits with Ziggy Stardust cutouts for girls — all shown with sneakers — in high-top and low-top versions — for a hipster look.
The collection also features girl's tops, pants and dresses in a scalloped pattern he calls "radio waves," peach-and-red satin trackster-like shorts and jackets, and a bomber jacket emblazoned with the "MJ" logo in various forms that fans are sure to crave.
While the collection is aimed at both sexes, the menswear looks are the big standouts, particularly the rockabilly shirts in dark colors with contrasting patterns that any aspiring singer would love.