THE EDGE

THE REVIEW: SPRING 2011

MARC by MARC JACOBS

Going retro cool in the hands of Marc Jacobs will always be incredibly chic.

The Spring 2011 Marc by Marc Jacobs collection combined wearability with old-school charm in some of the most brilliant pieces of the season.

Marc by Marc Jacobs explored the ways to update age-old basics of menswear and the results are odes to vintage cool, where tailoring takes on the form of an expert soft appeal to the clothes and genius of fabric choices. The trench coat with its upturned collar and luscious tan and gray fabrics has that 70s-80s feel with its length and slightly extended shoulders are probably among the finest looks from the collection. Another stunner was a sweater, shirt and shorts combination, one in classic gray accented by a surprisingly chic orange belt bag. Fashion rules prior today might have been against the fanny pack, but what Jacobs has to offer is an updated, smarter and way more elegant version than the ones before. Sleeveless trenches and supple, almost liquid jackets made the entire look of the collection a refined and relaxed version of formal dressing.

The accessories were stories in themselves, looking both young and mature. Striped sneakers worn with buttery suits and silk-looking polka dot shirts with ties or paired with the handsome trench coats. The luscious leather messengers that looked like vintage mail man bags will surely win the stylish set over with its timeless colors, burnt tan that's verging on an almost Hermes orange and dove gray. These too were signature hues for the season: bronze jacket and trousers, gray sweaters, trench coats and high-collared sleeveless versions and pale blue shirts.

Marc by Marc Jacobs' usual quirky style is still there thanks to the seemingly careless ways of dressing and the prints, but this was a more grown up collection most probably catered to the same young customers he's been known to dress since his own labels. Going for mature refinement and still enjoying those last few years of youth should look this good.

source: GQ

-Gerard