In honor of Marc Jacob’s birthday, I wanted to write about the legendary fashion designer and his fabulous Spring 2013 collection. This mini-bio of Marc Jacobs can be found on the Vogue UK website. Marc Jacobs is the American fashion designer best known for his eponymous label Marc Jacobs, his diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs and his tenure at Louis Vuitton as creative director – which commenced in 1997. In the spring of 2001, Jacobs introduced his secondary line, Marc by Marc Jacobs. He has sought treatment for alcohol and drug addiction twice, first in 1999 and again in 2007 following a relapse. “It’s a cliché, but when I drank I was taller, funnier, smarter, cooler,” Jacobs told New York Magazine in 2005. “I would come into work and fall straight to sleep, and then I would tell everyone to come in on a Saturday because we were behind, and then I wouldn’t show up.”

Through these struggles and triumphs, Marc Jacobs has proved that he can overcome life’s obstacles and still be successful and innovative fashion designer. No surprise that his current Marc Jacobs Spring 2013 collection has wowed the fashion critics.

The New York Times wrote that, “Marc Jacobs clapped and made the sun appear, and then, for Louis Vuitton, mustered the supermodels to look as if they had no strength left to wear anything more than a slip and an overcoat, as they tumbled into their hotel rooms. Pleasure seemed to be the defining mood of the fall collections, whether it was in the sensual textures, the cocooning coats and the unfittedness of the clothes. Some of the more elegant designs may look retro, but they are not predictable.”

For this season make sure to invest in some blouses and even skirts that are decked-out in stripes. Most people would never consider wearing stripes head to toe, however, Marc Jacobs did an amazing job of proving this look can actually work. Changing up the direction and design of the same style of stripes really helps separate the top from the bottom and the vertical stripes will help lengthen your body and even creates the illusion that you are taller. Whether chevron, horizontal or vertical stripes, see what you like best and start by getting a shirt with the pattern to get an idea of what you feel the most comfortable in. Another fashion forward option to sport the stripes trend would be to rock long  skirt or pants with vertical* stripes then pair it with a solid top.

Happy 50th Birthday Marc Jacobs and thank you for all you have done for the Fashion World!

“I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect – they are much more interesting”
-Marc Jacobs