Dare to be different with The Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs burst onto the fashion scene in 1986, when he founded his eponymous label fresh out of Parson’s School of Art and Design. A preternaturally talented designer, Jacobs had actually already been in business throughout college; with some of the most exclusive boutiques in the city picking up his hand-knit sweaters. It was the prescient way that Jacobs sought inspiration from the people he surrounded himself with, his close friends – perennial cool girls including Kate Moss and Sofia Coppola – and the women he saw on the street, that allowed him to tap into the zeitgeist in a way that no designer had before. It’s because of Jacobs’ insatiable thirst for newness that he remains a renegade figure within the fashion world, forever moving the needle, only to see the rest of the industry later follow suit.

The Marc Jacobs cruise 20 collection is just as idiosyncratic as you’d expect. A visual feast, Jacobs has put a contemporary twist on closet classics, making an utterly fresh proposition of the pieces most of us wear each and everyday. Take his irreverent interpretation of the skirt suit; cast in suitably saccharine colours, it also comes complete with a matching hat, of course. While this emphatically ladylike look is undoubtedly daring, take it apart and you’ll find that each and every piece is eminently wearable. These sumptuous separates look just as good with a white tee and blue jeans as they do together.

Jacobs’ utterly of-the-moment tie-dye tracksuit is another example of his ability to create endlessly versatile pieces. The perfect addition to any off-duty closet, it’s a sure-fire way to inject some fun into your weekend look. Alternatively, finish it with a timeless pea coat and playful accessories for a hi/lo ensemble that works for every daytime activity, from an afternoon of gallery-hopping to lunch with the girlfriends.

If it’s a forever piece with flair you’re after, Jacobs’ vermillion trench coat is the ultimate in mood-enhancing design. Not only will this compelling piece slot effortlessly into your existing closet – instantly elevating everything from printed midi dresses to muted knits and tailored pants – but it will be there for years to come. This is a timeless piece that you’re sure to wear, and cherish, forever.

Thanks to an uncanny ability to create clothes that stir emotions and excite the senses, as well as answering the demands of modern life, Jacobs has acquired an army of devoted followers over the last 30 years. The designer counts formidable females such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Chloe Sevigny, Dua Lipa and Selena Gomez among his fans; women who aren’t afraid to follow their own path and, crucially, refuse to follow trends – preferring to incite them instead.