Marc by Marc Jacobs

>> After last night's thought-provoking, Dickensian foray, it's only fair that today Marc Jacobs would give us something a bit more straightforward for his secondary line.

And he did. For Fall 2012, the designer focused on two of his more classic references — grunge and military — and worked them into laid-back schoolgirl silhouettes. Pleated skirts, velvet baby dolls, prim blouses, and jumpsuits were done in checks, plaids, and bronze lamé. For a hint of quirk, there were cat-eyed glasses, combat boots, and drum-major hats to finish each look.

>> Suddenly they're everywhere. Isabel Marant's have a built-in wedge, Marc Jacobs's have a '90s nostalgic vibe, and Lanvin's are jewel-printed and cap-toed. From the street to the runways, it seems that pumped-up kicks may just be the shoe of the moment. Click through to shop 20 drool-worthy styles, now.

>> A case of the Mondays didn't appear to drag anyone down backstage yesterday at Carolina Herrera, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Ohne Titel. We caught high-energy moments like Karlie Kloss and Jourdan Dunn getting some best friend time in — in their Carolina Herrera gowns; Shena Moulton and Daphne Groenevold playing tug of war with their Marc by Marc Jacobs runway bags; and a staring contest going down backstage at Ohne Titel. Those snaps, plus more, in the slideshow.

Photos: Greg Kessler

Sport chic, '60s pop, and colorblocking dominated the Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2012 show, giving us a look at what we’ll really be wearing next season. We’re slightly obsessed with the colorblocked wedges and bold color that dominated sporty shapes, and we’re totally investing in the navy blue jumpsuit. With MMJ muse Elle Fanning in the front row, it's clear what the line is about: youthful, fun clothes to wear from gym class at school to the disco by night. We can already see the ad campaign. Want to see the clothes in motion? Click to watch our video!

>> Cohesiveness was the word at the packed-in, high-energy outing for Marc Jacobs' secondary line earlier this evening. Swapping time slots with the main collection, this Monday night Marc by Marc offering felt refreshingly grown-up and pared-down: Mix-and-match separates in easy-wearing silhouettes got a high-octane kick with some clever color combining — poppy neons with navy, stony khakis with coral — while structural details like mini bubble-peplums added a hint of elevated cool to shift dresses, jumpsuits, and pencil skirts. There was an easy quirkiness at play here as well, one that appeared in the form of striped halter-neck swimsuits, sporty ruffled T-shirt dresses, and jumbo high-top sneakers.

Perhaps, you didn't know that Minx and Marc Jacobs were acquainted, but now they've gone and had a One Night Stand. The nail applique innovator and the fashion savant have teamed up on a limited-edition series of stick-ons named after the most heated and transient kind of tryst. Using prints from the Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2011 collection, Minx made five cool patterns with everything from metallic panthers to big, colorful flowers.

Unfortunately, quantities are very limited; you'll only be able to get them (as a gift with purchase) at Saks Fifth Avenue during Fashion's Night Out. Let's just hope there are more fun designer collaborations like this in the pipeline — and that they'll be available to fashion lovers everywhere.

Loafers have experienced a major resurgence thanks to designers like Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, and Nicholas Kirkwood, who showed them on their Fall runways — and the trend is only getting stronger. Whether you prefer them stacked or flat, we think they're the perfect transition shoe leading up to chillier weather. For the ultimate nerdy-chic look, pair loafers with cuffed jeans and a blazer for a casual off-duty vibe, or go for extra throwback drama and don them with a tweedy pencil skirt and a flowy tucked-in blouse. Flip through to see our top loafer picks right now from Topshop, Tory Burch, ASOS, and more.