A Letter to Marc Jacobs

I decided to write an imaginary letter to Marc Jacobs because after seeing his Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall collection I had so many questions going through my mind that only a letter seemed like it would capture how I feel about his Ready To Wear Show. His show, like Vera Wang’s show, had a surprising impact on me. Here, without further ado, is my letter to Marc Jacobs. All images are courtesy of Style.com

Dear Mr. Jacobs:

I want to express my thanks to your design team, Luella Bartlet and Katie Killier, for a very thought-provoking runway show during New York Fashion Week. The looks in the show made such a strong impression on me that after a week I can not get your collection out of my mind. I would like to first explain that I initially did not know how I felt about the looks in your show. I really had to let my thoughts simmer after what I had experienced. My first impression can be compared to how I typically feel after watching a great movie with a bad ending. Should a terrible ending ruin the whole movie experience? That describes how I felt about your show only in reverse. Let me further explain.

Several of the looks at the beginning of the show were so severe that I wondered what or who inspired your design team as they worked on this collection. You are generally the designer whom can be relied upon to present feminine garments with a quirky touch. The cut of the shirts and the drape of the pants in your collection screamed tomboy ninja to me not quirky chic.

I was also completely distracted by the huge belt associated with each look. The belt has seat belt-like qualities; however, upon consideration I realized I was happy that you decided to define the waist. This decision at least injected some femininity into the militant-type looks that came across the runway. I came to the conclusion that after seeing these militant-like looks that I did not like this collection. This decision turned out to be erroneous. 

An awakening occurred when I spotted the silver metallic dress on the runway. The Bunny Hop lingo on the dress gave the frock a certain vintage quality that was completely contrary to the modern texture of the dress. It is rather odd that I would like this look. Only a woman who had to toss on the first garments she came across in her closet to escape a burning building would wear this outfit. I believe what sold me was the realization that it is the separate pieces that made up these looks that are so appealing. Your design duo was going for a completely commercial look with this collection weren’t they Mr. Jacobs?

I felt that both Luella Bartlet and Katie Killier were both winking at the audience. Did they predict the amount of buzz that would be generated by this collection? The sporty touches in this collection were superb. I am sure you had a line of buyers ready to purchase the print sports-like jerseys and the grey color-blocked sweater in the collection. The BMX footwear the models wore throughout the show was also completely hip and quite unexpected. Mr. Jacobs, I think you may have expanded your customer-base with this collection. Are you trying to appeal to young affluent hipsters?

You also, like so many other designers, included plaid pieces in your collection that are so attractive to the hip set right now. Plaid is rad after all and the 90s is where it’s at right now. I really love the looks in which the plaid tops were paired with shiny pencil skirts. Did you and your team include pencil skirts in the collection to balance out those severe militant-type looks at the beginning of the show? Whatever your reasons, I really would like to own one of those pencil skirts.

I also have an attachment to the bowed capes in the collection. They are so charming. It is almost like Luella Bartlet and Katie Killier believe that they had to overcompensate for the heavy doses of testosterone-like looks that were on display earlier during the runway show. I want to tie all of my capes into a bow now but I suppose if I did that I might look like a fish out of water.

I also like the tulle skirts in your collection. I have read several reviews and the consensus is that the tulle skirts in your collection look Halloween-worthy. I don’t care. They suit me. I believe I have been in a gothic mood since I saw Vera Wang’s collection. Both of you are my picks for the most unexpected looks. I really appreciate that both of you took chances with your collections. I love the experimentation aspects of your collection.

Before I conclude, I want to compliment you on the beautiful handbags in the collection. I am positive that they will fly off of the store shelves as is typical of your handbag collections. I especially love how, in a few of your looks, you matched the bags to the print tops. They really complemented each other.

Mr. Jacobs you have created a commercial collection that I suspect will be wildly successful for you. You must have browsed street-style blogs prior to creating your collection because you have your fingers on the pulse of what is hot.

I loved your show and look forward to your next endeavors.

Sincerely,

 

Sharon Pate

 

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Vera Wang: The Change-Up Artist

I immediately thought of Miss Havisham from Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations when I saw the above sheer print floral dress in Vera Wang’s Fall Ready To Wear collection at New York Fashion Week. Miss. Havisham, for those of you who have neither read or seen a film adaptation of the novel, brought up her adopted daughter Estella to break men’s hearts in order to avenge Miss Havisham for being jilted on her wedding day by a con artist or as referenced during the 1800s a wastrel.

The sheer floral print dress created by Vera Wang with its gothic vibe, sheer textile and dark background is the embodiment of the perpetual state of sadness that enveloped Miss Havisham and, as a result, may have enticed her to change out of the dress in which she was to marry her con artist. She would have remained in the emotionally wrecked state that Charles Dickens described her to be but at least she would have been attired well. If a woman makes a deliberate choice to sit in the same room all day amongst the moldy remnants of her wedding breakfast and wedding cake she should at least garb herself in a glamorously gothic manner. Vera Wang's sheer floral print dress fits the bill perfectly.

Gothic influences were apparent in the runway looks but Vera Wang was said to have been inspired by insects for her highly stylized collection and, wow, did she bring that concept to life. Insect jewelry was charmingly pinned on dresses and sweaters and intertwined with necklaces. She championed insects via an imprint of a spider image on a sweater and in another case by having the statement You Bug Me emblazoned on a top. If I had been completely unaware before viewing the collection about what inspired her I certainly would have known the answer after seeing several of the pieces in her collection.

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The solid black sheer dresses presented during the runway show were more to me what Count Dracula’s brides would wear rather than Miss. Havisham. If filmmakers were to remake, which I hope they don’t because it is not to be outdone, but if they were to remake Bram Stocker’s Dracula film released in 1992 these are the sheer dresses and separates Count Dracula’s hierarchy of brides should wear. They are perfectly fitting for those monstresses with their flowing tresses and their air of erotic mystique. A woman with a certain amount of daring bravura would likely be drawn to these dresses. A couple of my favorite sheer looks from the runway are below:

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Ms. Wang also honored the history of grunge and punk with her inclusion of overt grunge and punk-inspired pieces. The plaid skirts created by Vera Wang are a must-have for well-off fashionistas, in my opinion. Her pieces seem to speak to a woman who has been enchanted with the fun side of radical fashion from the time she was a young teen and has continued to love it over the course of adulthood. Who knew Ms. Wang had a fondness for grunge and punk fashion? Not I. I was impressed with the way that she fused grunge, punk and tailored pieces to create not one or two or even three looks but several arresting outfits.

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Ms. Wang’s fall runway show in New York was certainly chameleon-like due to the variety of style influences I have referenced. As a result, her runway show may have appealed only to those who don’t mind disjointed collections. This may not be a favored collection for those who prefer one central theme in their collections; however, I enjoyed this collection because it left me wondering about what else she can do with her talents. She has generally been known as the designer who loves romanticism. I am sure she still does but, for me, it was a nice change to see her darker side.

One of the reasons I have a preference for this collection is because it would be relatively effortless to recreate some of the looks from the show at a budget-friendly price. The second reason is that because of my eclectic style I can readily picture how pieces from a variety of the looks could be mixed and matched to tremendous effect.

A few of my favorite looks from the collection can be viewed below:

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Did you watch the runway show? If so, I would love your opinion. What did you think of it? Was it too disjointed in your opinion? If you liked it, what are some of your favorite looks or pieces?

Related Story:

Vogue, Vera Wang Fall 2014 RTW Show - Review

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If you or someone you know is looking for a personal stylist please check out my Keaton Row lookbooks at http://www.keatonrow.com/stylist/sharonpate. I compile lookbooks based on my clients’ specific requests. My lookbooks can also be viewed on my Keaton Row pinterest boards: @farfetchedstl