Marc Jacobs Reminds Us Why He's A Fashion Rockstar With His Fendi Collection
First revealed as part of Fendi’s epic, collaboration‐heavy 25th anniversary celebration of its Baguette handbag last year, the brand’s highly anticipated capsule collection created jointly with fashion’s original prince of grunge, Marc Jacobs, drops on May 11. Here we are now to entertain you with a close‐up look.
Kim Jones – artistic director of Fendi’s womenswear – and Marc Jacobs go way back. More than a decade ago, it was the latter, then the creative director of Louis Vuitton, who hired Jones to take over menswear at the French maison, catapulting him and his genius for fusing streetwear with luxury fashion into the global spotlight. When Jones set about devising the 25th anniversary tribute to Fendi’s iconic Baguette bag (he joined the Italian label in 2020) and the place it found pop‐cultural fame in (New York City) last year, his mentor‐slash‐good‐pal came to mind.
“In my opinion, Marc is the king of fashion in America. He’s also a master of branding and experimentation, particularly with logos,” says Jones. Fittingly, the Marc Jacobs for Fendi capsule sees the American designer upturn the iconic pochette with the infectious fervour and cheekiness of one planning a birthday party for his BFF.
The pockets of a hoodie are designed in the shape of the Baguette
Take how a hoodie features not only an XL pocket in the shape of the purse, but is also printed with the words “The Baguette” in the same ironic font used on the casual tote that’s signature to his own label. Explains Jones: “Here, Marc has designed a Fendi collection. It’s not a collaboration – rather, it’s an interpretation. In it, there’s a sense of freedom in excess and joy in which he was allowed to do whatever he wanted.” Collectors, are you ready?
The Marc Jacobs for Fendi capsule echoes many of the signatures that have made Jacobs such a darling among industry insiders – and the youthful new generation of fashion lovers. Clock the uptown‐meets‐downtown aesthetic: floor‐sweeping skirts with dramatic trains, for example, sport drawstring waists and cargo pockets, while exaggerated stoles and hats are made of fluorescent‐hued recycled fur.
Blinged-out Baguettes, festooned with sequins, as interpreted by Marc Jacobs for Fendi
His take on the Baguette bag itself is unapologetically exuberant: elongated, gleaming with sequins and often accessorised with multiple mini versions of the very same bag. Says Jacobs: “I’ve got one word: Fendiroma ... It’s another land ... And I’ve got two words: The Baguette. It’s a bag – and I am never one to shy away from an iconic bag.”
This article is adapted from a story that first appeared in the May 2023 Rock 'N' Roll Forever Edition of FEMALE