Agnes Deyn at a 2009 party celebrating the collaboration, shot by Rob Loud/Getty Images
A Louis Vuitton Spring 2003 print ad
Photography via StyleBistro
Photography by Lorenzo Santini/WireImage
Photography via Style.com
Photography via Style.com
Photography by Peter Stigter
Photography by Peter Stigter
Photography by Peter Stigter
Photography courtesy of Louis Vuitton
1/10
Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse
Collaboration with Stephen Sprouse, Spring 2001
In 2001, Jacobs collaborated with New York artist designer Stephen Sprouse, bringing his famed graffiti prints to Louis Vuitton’s leather goods in bright neon hues. Not only did the collab become an instant hit (which is still produced today), but it poked fun at the brand’s own prestige in the pop art tradition.
2/10
Louis Vuitton Takashi Murakami
Collaboration with Takashi Murakami, Spring 2003
Jacobs brought highbrow to high schools everywhere in 2002 with the launch of his collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Lauded as Japan’s Andy Warhol, Murakami’s cartoon eyeballs and re-envisioned LV monogram enlivened the brand’s traditional bags in such an explosive way, that the pieces turned from trendy to longstanding staple.
3/10
Louis-Vuitton-Spring-2007
Spring 2007
Master of the high-low mix, Marc Jacobs made Chinatown covetable by accessorizing his Spring 2007 Victorian-meets-sport collection with LV adorned flower-filled grocery style bags.
4/10
Louis Vuitton Spring 2008
Collaboration with Richard Prince, Spring 2008
Sexy nurses in lurex doctor’s coats may sound like a gimmick, but Jacobs’ reference to artist Richard Prince’s reoccurring motifs quite literally brought art to life.
5/10
Louis Vuitton Fall 2009
Fall 2009
In true recessionary form, Jacobs channelled the excess of the ‘80s with bubble dresses, revamped panniers, silk ribbons and big-sleeved outerwear accessorized with over-the-top bunny ears. The ultimate ‘80s connection: Madonna wore one of the collection’s looks to that year’s Met Gala.
6/10
Louis Vuitton Fall 2010
Fall 2010
Hubba hubba. Jacobs celebrated the beauty of female form with non-stick figure babes like Lara Stone, Bar Refaeli and Elle Macpherson dressed in one retro-inspired form-fitting look after another.
7/10
Louis Vuitton Fall 2011
Fall 2011
Complete with an upscale leather daddy worthy setting, Jacobs presented a fetishized fall collection featuring plasticized lace jodhpur pants, LV emblazoned policeman caps and fur-sleeved coats. The show’s final look was worn by a smoking (both literally and figuratively) Kate Moss had audiences everywhere panting for more in thigh dominatrix boots.
8/10
Louis Vuitton Spring 2012
Spring 2012
The designer did his typical 180 from fall’s bondage-inspired collection to a one of sugary confections complete with a beautiful old timey carousel. One of the signatures of the season, the frothy pastel dresses and skirt suits set the tone for the return to ladylike that has carried through to this year.
9/10
Louis Vuitton Spring 2013
Spring 2013
Another last minute pop injection to Paris Fashion Week, Jacobs wowed audiences with his large-scale translation of Vuitton’s signature Damier check on sixties-inspired skirt suits and even the fashion show’s stage.
10/10
Louis Vuitton Spring 2014
Spring 2014
Marc Jacobs’ Louis Vuitton exit was done up extravaganza style with a showgirls-inspired collection of all black Caberet-worthy pieces. Tassles, fringe and extreme shoulders were nods to performance gear of Judy Garland, Cher, Barbra Streisand or Madonna, who were all mentioned in the designer’s show notes along with the perfect end note, “to the showgirl in all of us.”
After putting on his latest Louis Vuitton spectacle earlier today during Paris Fashion Week, Marc Jacobs announced it would be his last as the label’s creative director. Ending a 16-year stint during which he launched the French megabrand’s ready-to-wear offering and brought artist collabs to the forefront of leather goods, Jacobs will now focus on readying his namesake label for a public offering. Marc Jacobs, which is also owned by Vuitton parent company LVMH, is expected to go public within three years. No successor has been named as of yet, but former Balenciaga creative director Nicholas Ghesquière is rumoured to take on the role (OMGYOUGUYS!!)
All this is major fashion news, both rad and sad. If you’ve joined the fashion world at any point in the last 16 years, you’d be accustomed to the label’s quirky ready-to-wear aesthetic, theatrical fashion shows and global brand domination. It wasn’t always like that, and much of it is credit to Jacobs. With a single tear in my eye, Cry Baby style, I bid adieu to Jacobs’ Vuitton reign with 10 of his shining moments as the label’s creative director.
