Fashion icon Marc Jacobs recently made waves with his three-minute fashion show held at the New York Public Library. Known for his unconventional approach to fashion shows, Jacobs’ latest presentation offered a brief meditation on the abbreviated attention span induced by our digital lives and A.I.’s looming future.
With 29 models, the show began with just 30 seconds for them to march in one direction. They gathered backstage for another 30 seconds before walking out again for 30 more seconds in the opposite direction, followed by a minute or so of people realising it was over!
Jacobs’ show notes, seemingly written by ChatGPT, talked about the collection’s innovative approach to blending men’s wear-inspired tailoring with feminine aesthetics. It featured a range of abbreviated dresses and power-shoulder pantsuits over constructivist lingerie in a dominant black and white palette.
In a time when collections are growing increasingly bloated, Jacobs’ latest show was a refreshing departure. The designer once built a train in the Louvre for a show, but this time around, he went the other way by offering a stripped-down, conceptual approach, pushing back against the trend of larger, more elaborate shows.
This unconventional show demonstrated that a brief, straightforward, and minimalist presentation can be highly impactful. It was a commentary on our digital world and the speed at which we consume information.
Jacobs’ show reminded us of a time before social media and the endless scrolling of our feeds, when we appreciated performances for what they were rather than obsessively documenting everything. It also showed that sometimes, breaking all the fashion rules can be a good thing.
Despite some anti-fur protesters marching outside the library, the show was fur-free, showing that Jacobs is also willing to innovate on ethical grounds. As the audience filed out of the show, still smiling and pondering the designer’s musings, it was clear that it had left a lasting impression.
