If the big cities are calling your name this Summer — think NYC, Milan, and Paris — it's time to up your fashion game with pieces that'll surely have you blending in with the chic crowd. From Carven's cutout dress to Charlotte Olympia's metallic sandals, shop our picks now.
Marc Jacobs must have had chess on his mind when he designed his Spring 2013 collections for Louis Vuitton and his eponymous labels, because checkered prints were front and center. The rest of fashion followed, and this Summer there are boxy prints finding their way onto shoes, bags, swimsuits, and more.
Some Resort collections are about the fantasy of escaping the cold of Winter, and some are about having cool stuff to wear in November. Marc by Marc Jacobs's Resort 2014 collection falls squarely and spectacularly into the latter category.
Take the many houndstooth pieces — coats, blazers, skirts, and printed tops — infused with an edge not normally seen on the stodgy menswear pattern. Or the many frocks that catch the light, like a cocktail dress festooned with sequins or a sliver metallic coat that references Jacobs's mainline Fall 2013 collection.
There were plenty of quieter stunners, though, like a jumpsuit made to look like a tuxedo, or a faux fur coat that looks more cozy and warm than glamorous.
For the first time since Marc by Marc Jacobs was founded in 2000, someone who isn't named Marc Jacobs will be in creative control of the brand.
Jacobs and his business partner, Robert Duffy, announced today that they've hired British designer Katie Hillier as the new creative director of Marc by Marc Jacobs. Hillier, who Duffy told WWD "is allowed to staff the team any way she wants," has in turn hired fellow designer Luella Bartley as design director for women's ready-to-wear.
Hillier had been freelancing for Marc by Marc Jacobs for a decade before joining the team in a full-time capacity, designing everything from watches, jewelry, and handbags. Bartley designed her own line, called Luella, from 1999 to 2009.
Duffy said Jacobs is "still the boss" — he will still be an advisor, but will focus mostly on his mainline and duties with Louis Vuitton — and added that the menswear team will continue to report to its current leader, Karl Aberg. But Duffy also noted that he wanted to shake things up at Marc by Marc Jacobs because things were "getting a little stale."
"We have an issue with the ready-to-wear. I knew it because I pay very close attention to company-owned retail stores and I knew what was happening. We started out really strong in denim, and then we just let it go."
But the company seems confident that some new blood will help turn things around.
"I am very excited to have Katie here in her new role," Jacobs said. "Her creativity and energy inspires me and everybody she works with. She is a great leader. She is a team player and a great friend to Robert and me."
Photo: Katie Hillier at the 2012 British Fashion Awards.
Finding a chic carryall that can easily take you from lounging in the sand to drinks afterwards is a seasonal essential. This Summer, beach-worthy totes from Club Monaco, and Marc by Marc Jacobs feature a range of water-resistant and lightweight silhouettes that are as cool as they are functional.
Nothing marks the impending start of Summer like slipping into a pair of pretty espadrilles. Whether you're on the hunt for a dressier pair — like this statement striped stunner from Christian Louboutin — or looking for something more laid-back, the latest batch of online arrivals are sure to please. With a check-off list of the hottest colors and styles in mind, we found 21 gorgeous options for you to shop now. See everything from Marc by Marc Jacobs's adorable mouse espadrille flats to Pierre Hardy's power-packed prints in the slideshow.
Your Spring wardrobe revamp doesn't always have to be a dramatic one, and we're looking to this street-style subject for proof of a more subdued kind of seasonal overhaul. Between the eye-catching distressed jeans, the abundance of classic white layers, and the polished shoe choice, this is the kind of outfit that makes it impossibly easy to strike a balance between casual and chic. To achieve a similar effect, keep your worn-in, distressed jeans handy, then pair them with a white t-shirt (the more relaxed, the better) and an oversize white jacket. A white blazer or longer car-coat style will work just as well. As for the accessories, stick to the sophisticated basics, like black slingback pumps, a gold watch, and a neutral-toned bag. Now, shop the essentials below.
Shop, clockwise from top left: J.Crew Perfect-Fit Boatneck Button Tee ($27, originally $33), Reiss Finlee Gathered Back Coat ($425), Marc by Marc Jacobs Mini Marci Mirror Watch ($200), Mango Touch Zipped Bowling Bag ($90), Zara Chain Court Shoe ($50), Topshop Moto Vintage Lacey Rip Jeans ($84)
Over the years, Marc Jacobs's runway beauty looks have ranged from ultrafeminine to modernly minimalist to beautifully bare. He's experimented with white makeup, space-age hair accessories, and teased updos, but one thing remains the same: his models' hair and makeup always makes an unforgettable statement. In honor of his much-anticipated show tonight, take a look back at the best looks he's sent down the runway.
Marc by Marc Jacobs's vision of a woman: vintage glamour. The bright prints of the Fall 2013 collection could have come straight from 1975, but the hair and makeup were inspired by different eras — creating a mash-up of decades. Guido Palau for Redken was inspired by the '40s, creating a texturized, pin-curled look for giant, glamorous locks (hello, Cara Delevingne; can we buy you a drink?), and several models wore colorful nets on the hairstyle to add an extra retro touch. As it turns out, for the makeup, Dick Page for Shiseido didn't have a decade in mind when mapping out the face. He did, however, bring focus to the lips by applying a bright red with a brush, and accentuated the eyes by lining with a shadow on the outer third.
