Today I want to introduce my favorite designer of all, Marc Jacobs. The Story starts with Marc Jacobs as a professional in the apparel industry, but though his designs always stand out with their vibrant colors, his physique and personal attitude are so striking and appealing that they take center stage when he is in the press.
Marc Jacobs wearing his signature kilt / Photo: The X-Stylez
Marc Jacobs was born in 1963 in New York City. He may not have realized what his future would have in store for him as a 15-year-old working as a stockboy at Charivari, in New York. This clothing boutique was his first place where he starts to engage with fashion industry. During his work at Charivari, he met sportswear designer Perry Ellis, who later became his mentor and give the inspiration to go to the Parsons School of Design.
Marc learned to sew and knit from his grandmother. He lived with her after moving out of his parents' house. In 1981 he graduated from the High School of Art and Design and studied at the Parsons, where all the students present their talent in artistic aspects.
During his studies at Parsons, he designed oversized hand-knit sweaters sold by Barbara Weiser, owner of New York's Charivari Boutique, and completed his first collection for Reuben Thomas Inc.,where he formed a business relationship with Robert Duffy, who were Ruben Thomas executive at that time and is currently Jacob's creative collaborator and president and cofounder of Marc Jacobs.
Marc Jacobs and partner Duffy established the Marc Jacobs fashion empire in 1993, and it has not stopped growing since. With his talent, he was able to even work as an artistic director of Louis Vuitton, one of fashion's highest positions, and to collaborate with artists from Richard Prince to Takashi Murakami.
What sets the Marc Jacobs brand apart from others?
According to an interview to introduce his fragrance Dot, Marc Jacobs' work is so special is because he is one of few designers who is working today, perhaps ever, who each season can do something completely different than the last season's styles, making 180-degree turns but staying consistently and recongnizably Marc Jacobs.
If you are a fan of Marc Jacobs, you have reasons for loving his design work. I first became aware of the brand in 2006. At that time, I didn't love as much as I do now. Now, I love love love it to death. His punkish, distinctive, and fun designs always pull me into each new season. The biggest reason, however, comes from my personal interaction with one of his Marc Jacobs frog bags. When I met my future husband, he told me I have "froggy" face (his impression of what he thinks is a cute face I sometimes make). Later, when he found a Marc Jacob bag with a frog on it (see picture below), he thought it would really represent me well and gave it to me as a birthday gift. Because I have such a happy memory associated with the Marc Jacobs brand as a reflection of my personal taste.
Marc Jacobs bag from my husband / Photo: Suhyun Kim Luft
Another thing I love about Marc Jacobs is the exclusiveness of his brand. I love his special-item collection, much of which is goes under the "Marc by Marc Jacobs" moniker. Until only a few years ago, it was not available on his website, but only at Marc Jacobs retail stores which carry special items that cannot be found elsewhere. Now, however, online shopping is offered at the Marc Jacobs website. Some items are still unavailable, which is good news for me, so that I do not go crazy and try to collect everything. His delicacy of inspiration can be seen in small things like the ruler, pencil, playing cards and book mark pictured below. Partially on account of this exclusivity, the retail stores are always crowded.
Marc Jacobs Special Items Photo: Suhyun Kim Luft
Marc Jacob's dedication to his brand shows in different ways. His creative thinking has broadened the scope of fashion in general. His recent work includes a campaign for Diet Coke as creative director in 2013. His ability to work as a fashion designer and simultaneously collaborate with a soft-drink company shows the universality of his creative talent.
Now there is even Marc Jacobs coffee. Does it sound crazy? Yes, but it is true. His first café was launched in Milan, Italy. According to Women's Wear Daily (WWD), his coffee shops open early and close late, making sure early morning commuters and night owls alike can have a cup of Jacob's blend.
His café features the colors that his signature elements: neon, navy and blue. It is connected to 3,100-sqare-foot store designed by archetecture Stephan Jaklitshand highlighting a sliding door made of blue blue glass.
Marc By Marc Jacobs in Milan, Italy / Photo: Marc Jacobs
It would not be an understatement to call him a leader of pop culture, a fashion phenomenon. I appreciate his style and love the clean, vibrant, and modern design aesthetic. The high quality of his construction and materials is among the more logical reasons why I became a fan of Marc Jacobs.
People pursue their wants in different categories and continually make changes to obtain what they want in their lives. Fashion plays a large role in this process by helping individuals to express their personality and reflect their various wants as they change.
Fashion trends, too, are constantly changing, and they not only reflect but also produce a desire for variety. Designers create different collections several times a year to keep attracting consumers and keep their business alive.
Recently more luxury designers have brought high-end ready-to-wear collections to the runway. With ready-to-wear, the volume of garments for sale is much higher than in the case of the custom fitted clothing traditional in haute couture, made for specific customers. The higher volume goes hand in hand with more practical clothes for daily wear. Here, I believe that designers are not only looking at potential profits but also trying to bring the artistic aspects of their outlook on fashion "to the street." Every day we see an enormous range of distinctive looks, chased to express the wearers' unique personalities.
With more and more diversity in fashion in everyday life, therefore, street fashion has become a significant source of inspiration for fashion designers looking for ideas for their next collection.
We can no longer say that street fashion is ordinary and boring or primarily practical, as it may have been in the past. More people are into fashion than ever before, and higher expect ions are reflected in the way people choose to look in daily life, in the real world.
Street fashion this year is no exception. In BAZZAR magazine, pictures of "street fashion 2013" appear in different features on New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I have collected some favorite looks typical of street fashion trends 2013 from the magazine below.
Kenzo's printed sweatshirt with sequined high-waisted skirt
Photo: Mr. Newton
Spectacular! With a striking combination of "high" and "low" styles in the apparent lack of harmony between top and bottom, skillfully linked by shades of green, it actually works! I think this is a stunning example of fashion on the street. It is well accessorized, and the model's polarized sunglasses reflect the greens in her outfit, creating a well-style look. The delicacy of her unbalanced items makes me realize what I have overlooked, the joy of mismatch. I would never have combined clothes in this way, until now. But there is something about this look; it has such freshness and interest that I can't stop looking at her outfit with admiration. The more I examine it, the more harmony I see in the apparent disharmony of the high/low mismatch.
Taylor Tomasi Hill, the style and accessories director for Marie Claire magazine in the United States, creates a spicy combination of hard and soft. Although floral patterns in general are far from my taste, she pulls off her look with a leather jacket that is amazing. Her pointy sunglasses add an edgier look along with the paired leather jacket, yet at the same time her floral black dress adds a feminine, flirty element. It is a perfect edgy look, ranging from softness to hardness.
If you are into fashion, you are familiar with Stella McCartney. She is a daughter of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and a designer of high-end fashions who gets rave reviews for her collections featuring crisp, sharp tailoring, sexy femininity, and an air of confidence. She also has designed for British athletes at the London Olympics and has a successful partnership with Adidas. According to Vogue magazine, her main goal is to bring real-world customer's fashion to the table. During a Women's Wear Daily (WWD) interview, she said, "It's not about what it looks like in the studio or on the runway. It's what it looks like on a real person that matters. That isn't easy, but it's what's fun." Many people know this renowned designer as a green activist as well. Her passion for protecting the environment is also revealed in her brand. She does not use fur or leather in her products, supports the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) and the Ethical Trading Initiative, and working with the Natural Resources Defense Councilon its Clean by Design program. "... I think that millions of animals each year shouldn't be killed for the sake of fashion. It's because I also believe in the connection between fur and leather and the environment. There's a huge connection," she said in an interview on her official website. For her efforts to protect the environment and for her sophisticated designs, I can't resist loving her work. I think she searches for beauty, both inner and outer beauty, in her collections. The minimalist aspects of her designs are astonishing, and many customers enjoy wearing her eco-friendly collections. Playing with navy, blue and black and bold, sophisticated patterns creates her casually elegant and somewhat powerful, yet feminine look. Knowing her commitment to the environment, I appreciate her design work more than ever.
Last, but important enough not to miss, is South Korea, where shopping never stops. According to Joongang, a Korean daily newspaper, Michael Findly, an American systems engineer based in Korea, said, "There are 30,000 stores in 10 square blocks. That's amazing. Any clothing you want to buy is here. I have been to a lot of other countries, but none is quite like this." This is a heaven for shopaholics, who can engage in their favorite activities round the clock. Seoul Street is hard to overlook when it comes to fashion. Supermodel Seulki Park, my oldest high-school friend, shows her vintage look. Her approach is casual, east, and comfortable. The look could have been boring, but I think that by using her big clutch with a colorful pattern and applying colorful makeup, she achieved a bubbly and cheerful vintage look. In the photo taken with her coworker, her look is definitely "chic girl," with a long, black cardigan and a simple white t-shirt. Black and white can never go wrong, but her look is definitely a clean from head to toe. In my online conversation with her, she mentioned that every single piece of clothing is not boring if you use it the right way. She believes that her work is to show ideas that help women fine "perfect outfits" to express their own identities. Eun Kim (23), who is a student majoring in Chinese at Sookmeong University, said, "I can't find one sentence that explains what Korean street fashion is. But if you go to Abgujeong or any downtown areas, I can tell you for sure that you will see interesting looks, and you won't get bored watching people on the street."
Apgujeong is a residential, fashion and cultural mecca in the center of Seoul's Gangnam district. Without hesitation, I can say that Apgujeon'g Rodeo Street is a leader in luxury fashion.
Eun Kim (23), a student, was happy to send
a photo of her date- nigh look
Photo: Heenam Kim
Student Eun Kim wears leggings and an oversized cardigan
with a simple blue t-shirt for her grocery shopping
Whether or not you are
a fan of the TV show "Sex in the City" and even if you have never visited the
city, you probably know that New York is heaven for fashion lovers. Since I am
interested in fashion, New York was the perfect destination for me during the spring break. I only wish I could have made the trip during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on February.
First place I went shopping
was in SoHo, which is located in Greenwich Village. The area is called
"SoHo" because it is south of Houston St. The SoHo area was mostly old
loft buildings with ground floor art galleries and restaurants, in addition to
shops, making SoHo a center of modern art and one of the city’s most vibrant
fashion centers. The neighborhood has a unique atmosphere from street to street,
somehow perfectly balancing the contrasting aesthetics of the dated
architecture and the displays of current luxury fashion.
"Fashion is my
biggest thing in my life and I always love to come to SoHo to see people
sitting at coffee shops. For me, fashion is another way of expressing myself
and pulls out my hidden attractiveness with clothes. So clothing is always
important for me to consider when I'm out… I enjoy spending time to think about
what to wear," said Julia Jang, my friend for more than 10 years, who works
for a textile firm in Manhattan. SoHo is a necessary shopping stop because
you can find fun, youthful, unique, and artistic
fashion in many stores within a single neighborhood. Of course, it was tempting to blow whole my shopping budget here, but I had to save some for later.
SoHo streets with old loft buildings. Photograph: Suhyun Kim Luft
(Top) Street where luxury designer shops in SOHO. (Bottom) Street View of SoHo, where loft buildings stand side by side. Photograph: Suhyun Kim Luft
Topshop located in 478 Broadway, New York, NY 10013 Photograph: Suhyun Kim Luft
One of my most
eagerly anticipated stops ended up becoming the biggest disappointment of the trip. Topshop, which is located on Broadway in SoHo, was one
of my must-go places. I first discovered the brand when I saw TV personality Bethenny Frankel, who starred in "The Real Housewives of New York City," wearing a white cocktail dress
from Topshop on the show "Watch What Happens Live." Since clothing from this iconic British fashion chain wasn't available in Austin until recently, I had big
expectations. But it wasn't nearly as great as I had expected. The store was too crowded,
there was not much inventory in my size, and the quality of the clothing did not justify the high prices. Back in Austin, I did purchase one Topshop dress in Nordstrom at Barton Creek Mall. Although they don't carry the whole collection, it has other, better-quality clothes, and also offers discounts not available at Topshop SoHo.
A cute bow rain boots found in SoHo. Photograph: Suhyun Kim Luft
Rain boots do not get much play in Austin, but I have always had
a thing for rain boots, and I now have a small collection of them. In New York
I found a really cute pair of rubber rain boots with a rubber bow, in SoHo. As
much as I wanted to own them, I also knew that I didn’t need any more. Luckily,
since the New York weather was rainy during my stay, I could justify the
purchase without guilt, but unluckily, they didn't have my size. After coming
back from New York, I found them online. The rain boots that I had seen in SoHo
turned out to be inspired by an original Vivienne Westwood design, which
also came in a version with tassels instead of a bow. Technically, as part of a
past collection, this item wouldn’t be featured in my blog, but aren’t they cute?
Uniqlo on Fifth Avenue, New York. Photograph: 인스톨 SI (globalee) from Naver Blog
Another shopping district that is a must is Fifth Avenue. Fifth
Avenue, home to some of New York’s most famous shops and cafés, is in the
center of Manhattan.
One store deserves special attention: the Uniqlo on Fifth Avenue. In the United
States, Uniqlo currently has a physical presence only in San Francisco and New
York. Uniqlo wasn't unfamiliar to me, however, since I often purchased clothes
there in Korea, where the store has been established and popular for years. It
was really refreshing to see a giant Uniqlo shop in New York.
To give a little background: Uniqlo is a Japanese design firm
owned by Wonderwall Inc. The parent company,
which specializes in design of commercial retail spaces such as restaurants,
bars and fashion showrooms with a distinctly unique flavor, was founded in 2000
by Masamichi Katayama.
Uniqlo on Fifth Avenue, New York. Photograph: 인스톨 SI (globalee) from Naver Blog
Uniqlo interior design on Fifth Avenue, New York. Photograph: 인스톨 SI (globalee)from Naver Blog
Gene Kim (Student, 25) wearing Andy Warhol design Uniqlo t-shirt. Photograph: Suhyun Kim Luft
The Uniqlo store on Fifth Avenue is the company’s biggest branch,
and it is housed in a massive three-story building.
While I was there, I found a t-shirt collection featuring AndyWarhol designs.
I didn't want to bring clichéed tourist souvenirs for my friends,
so these shirts made the perfect gifts, since my Austin friends are fans of
Uniqlo. Upon receiving her gift, Gene Kim, a current transfer applicant to the
University of Texas at Austin for fall 2013, said, “I wouldn't expect you to
pick a banana picture over other awesome Andy Warhol designs, but at the same
time I appreciate you bringing me a Uniqlo shirt that I couldn't buy in Austin.
Also, I think I can wear this look on South Congress for sure. In my opinion,
style is one way of representing individual personality. So I try not to give the
wrong impression to others with the wrong look when I dress up. We can't say
that style shows the whole personality, but it definitely helps give the right
direction to others."
During my stay in New York, I met friends who live there and
others visiting from other states. It was really good to catch up with my
friends and the fashion trends, but also reminded me how much I miss living in a
big city.
Hanging out with friends in New York. Photograph: Suhyun Kim Luft
Top left: View from tram (from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan). Bottom: In front of James A. Farley Post Office in New York. Photograph: Suhyun Kim Luft
