Update: You may claim that you could see Marc Jacob's departure coming from a mile away, but there was one person who did not. That would be Jacobs. In an interview with the designer, his partner Robert Duffy, and LVMH's Bernard Arnault, WWD brings to light that the decision was made very last minute and after the very swan-song like presentation was conceptualized.
Furthermore, Arnault says that he's backing Jacobs, and the new venture for his namesake line, 100%. “I am myself committed to the future of the company,” he said in reference to the preparation of the Marc Jacobs IPO. “I must say that the relationship with Marc and Robert for all the time that we’ve worked together was absolutely fantastic. And it still is fantastic.” (WWD)
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His notes read, "To the showgirl in all of us," and as the models paraded down the final Marc Jacobs Louis Vuitton runway, there was no shortage of the spectacle, glamour, and larger-than-life beauty — the kind of presentation Jacobs is known for. As reported by WWD, it has been confirmed this morning that Jacobs will be stepping down as the creative director of Louis Vuitton, a position he's held for the past 16 years and the position that's afforded him the opportunity to create the fashion house's ready-to-wear collection, help soar the LV-logo-laden leather goods into modern iconic territory, and work collaboratively with artists including Richard Prince, Takashi Murakami, and Yayoi Kusama.
For his last runway presentation, Jacobs kicked things off with a logo-covered leotard — a nod to the ubiquity of the brand's name — and continued with 40 other opulent looks, each one topped with a tall, feathered headpiece. Yes, it's the dark, beautiful swan song only Jacobs could conceive.
The official news of Jacob's departure comes after several months of speculation and will-he-won't-he rumors that the designer and his business partner Robert Duffy would not be renewing their contract with LVMH when it expires at the end of this year. In addition, according to reports, Jacobs' leave will also allow him to focus on preparing the IPO for his own namesake company. And, of course, as far as the future of the brand, rumors that Nicolas Ghesquière will fill Jacobs' shoes are still buzzing on high frequency.
As we wait for the pending announcement on Jacobs successor, however, be sure to watch the last (perhaps greatest) Louis Vuitton show in its entirety below and wish Marc a proper au revoir for now. (WWD)