Marc Jacobs: A History of Success

Happy late Thanksgiving everybody! 

Up here in Canada, us Americans don't get any holiday recognition (the Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, as they have an earlier harvest to celebrate), but I managed to rally together my roommates and collaborate on a really delicious meal! I made cheesecake (deadly...) and the rest of the meal went to the boys. All in all, it was a fantastic make shift "family" Thanksgiving with lots of laughs, good conversation, and random YouTube playlists (Harry Potter theme song anyone?).

The semester is slowly (and quickly) coming to a close, meaning I'm getting piles and piles of work that always seems to be due on the same day. Regardless, I'm still so excited to sit down at my computer everyday (almost) and get those creative juices flowing right onto the pages of my blog. Today is my last day highlighting Marc Jacobs, which I know I've been a little flighty about, but there are just so many exciting trends and events happening in the fashion world right now, such as a long whispered about collabo between Tom Ford and H&M, that it's hard to stay on track!

Speaking of topical fashion news, a Marc Jacobs advert for his new perfume "Oh Lola!" was recently banned in the U.K by the ASA, essentially for depicting a girl as "too childlike and sexual". Check out the story here and share your thoughts; is the ad pedophilic in nature, or simply portraying a story?

Anyway, here it is, my little abridged Marc Jacobs history, complete with photos of his work from over the years...

Marc Jacobs was born April 9, 1963 in New York City. He showed an affinity for art at an early age as he graduated from the High School of Art and Design, and then went on to study at Parson's School of Design in New York City (Project Runway anybody?)  In the mid 1980s he then joined forces with Robert Duffy, who is still his creative collaborator and business partner, and together they formed Jacobs Duffy Designs Inc., which still exists today. A couple years later, in 1986, Jacobs designed his first collection under the Marc Jacobs label.

Marc Jacobs

Robert Duffy

In 1994 Marc Jacobs produced his first full collection of menswear, and just three years later, in 1997, he was appointed created director of Louis Vuitton. He created LV's first prêt-à-porter collection, and he remains the creative director to this day. Just ten years ago, in 2001, Jacobs introduced his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, which is a diffusion line with more than 200 retail stores in 60 countries.

Jacobs continued to expand his company, and in 2006 he started a new line of body-splash fragrances in affordable 10 oz bottles. These fragrances have become increasingly popular in recent years. Jacobs has established himself as a prominent figure in the NYC celebrity scene, and he is quite a celebrity himself. Various celebrities commonly attend his fashion shows, such as Kim Gordon and Vincent Gallo. Jacobs commonly references past decades through his collections, particularly the 1980s and 1940s. Upon describing his clothes, Jacobs has said "what I prefer is that even if someone feels hedonistic, they don't look it. Curiosity about sex is much more interesting to me than domination. ... My clothes are not hot. Never. Never."

Vintage Marc Jacobs Dress, date unknown

Marc Jacobs Vintage 90s Tunic

Marc Jacobs Editorial Elle shoot 1992

Marc Jacobs for Perry Ellis 1992

Marc Jacobs Fall 2000

Marc Jacobs Fall 2001 with Sophia Cappola

Marc Jacobs Spring 2005 on Jennifer Lopez

Marc Jacobs Spring 2005 on Kate Bosworth

Marc Jacobs Spring 2007

Marc Jacobs with Victoria Beckham 2008

Victoria Beckham in Marc Jacobs Spring 2009

Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs 2009

Frida Pinto in Marc Jacobs Fall 2010

Michelle Williams in Marc Jacobs Resort 2010

Marc Jacobs Spring 2010

Leighton Meester in Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2011

And you can, of course, refer to this post to check out Mr. Jacobs' most recent line, it's pretty much to die for....

Well, that was a lot of research, and a lot of beautiful clothing!! Jacobs has clearly made a smooth transition over the years, with each season being more exciting and innovative than the last. I'm guessing his innovation has a lot to do with why he wins so many awards...

Hope you learned as much as I did! Tomorrow and Sunday, get ready for some exciting *Weekend Obsessions*. What are you obsessing over this weekend (besides leftover turkey and pumpkin pie)?

Ciao for now xx

Versace's History: A Family Affair

The fashion house Gianni Versace sPa (commonly referred to as just Versace) has a simple and short history, yet it is a tragic one nonetheless. The company was started by Gianni Versace in 1978 when he was just 32 years old. The designer was born in 1946 in Reggio, Calabria, Italy, and grew up with his brother Santo and sister Donatella. In 1976 Santo, and Donatella moved to Milan to help Gianni shape Versace's vision, and two years later the fashion house emerged. In 1982 Gianni met his boyfriend of 15 years, Antonio D' Amico, who stayed with Gianni up until the day of his death. In 1997 Gianni was inexplicably shot to death by Andrew Cunanan on the steps of his mansion in Miami Beach, upon returning home from a morning walk on Ocean Drive. The murderer shot himself on a boat several days later, and for this reason, the purpose of the murder still remains a mystery. 

Gianni Versace and Gianni with Antonio D' Amico:

Following Gianni's sudden death, his sister, Donatella, who was the vice president at the time, stepped in as the creative director of the company, and Santo became the CEO. Donatella is still the creative director of Versace, and has managed to create her own legacy while staying true to her deceased brother's aesthetic. 

Dontalla and Santo Versace respectively: 

Versace employs multiple teams of directors that work in each specific line, which includes, Atelier Versace, Versace Couture, Versace Sports, Versace Jeans Couture, Versace Home Collection, Versace Collection, and Versus (Versace). Today Versace is one of the most well-known international fashion houses, and, aside from clothing, distributes accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings under their various brands. Versace became a "household name" in 1994 after the widespread media coverage of Elizabeth Hurley wearing a black Versace dress. The black dress was made from pieces of silk and lycra fabric, with over-sized gold safety pins placed at "strategical places." The dress is often referred to as "that dress," and is arguably Versace's best known, and most idolized creation.

Since Hurley's debut, Versace has had various celebrities establish themselves as well-known fans of the line. For example, Elton John's most iconic pieces are often Versace, such as his sparkling suits covered in Swarovski crystals.

 

Versace's other big celebrity fans include Tupac Shakur, Elizabeth Hurley, Axl Rose, Beyoncé, the late Princess Diana, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga, who is renowned for bringing back vintage Versace. 

Many Celebrities have also been featured as "The Face of Versace" over the years, including Patrick Dempsey, Madonna, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Halle Berry, and the current "face" January Jones:

 

 

 

Here is a quick look at how the Versace aesthetic has transformed over the years, and how it has also stayed true to the brand that Gianni started almost thirty years ago: 

Versace Dresses ca. 1980: 

 Red Versace dresses of the 1990s on Catherine Zeta Jones and Cindy Crawford:

Versace dresses of the early 2000s on Kate Hudson and JLo:

Versace Dresses of 2007 on Agyness Deyn and Penelope Cruz:

 

Versace dresses from 2011 on Blake Lively and January Jones:

 The 2011 collaboration between Versace and H&M on Jessica Alba and Kanye West: 

And finally, the Spring 2012 sea-inspired Versace collection: 

Well, apologies for the rushed nature of the history of Versace, but this week was overshadowed by her H&M collaboration. Tomorrow I'll be highlighting a new designer, and the week should be business as usual including a Trendy Wednesday with some *Weekend Obsessions* to follow.

Ciao for now xx