Marc Jacobs Spring 2023 RTW’s Pays Tribute To Vivienne Westwood

The Marc Jacobs Spring 2023 collection honours late British designer Vivienne Westwood.

Held at the 643 Park Avenue Armony, fashion label Marc Jacobs launched its latest Spring 2023 Ready-To-Wear collection one week ahead of the official New York Fashion Week schedule. Titled “Heroes,”, the collection was the first physical show after two years of only digital runway shows. For this collection, Marc Jacobs Spring 2023 paid tribute to late British designer Vivienne Westwood who passed away in December 2022 at 81.

The designer was a great friend for the house since the very beginning, and had a great influence on Jacobs in the ‘90s. Marc Jacobs himself stated,  “I continue to learn from your words and all your extraordinary creations,”. At the end of the show, he mentioned Westwood’s quote, “Fashion is life-enhancing, and I think it’s a lovely, generous thing to do for other people.”. Creative designer Marc Jacobs got inspired by her punk style, recreated the designer’s looks and added them to his collection. Marc wanted to honour “all of our heroes past, and, young heroes present,”.

The label unveiled a 45-look collection. A live soundtrack of American solo violinist Jennifer Koh spotlighted and highlighted the garments. Models walked on the runway, while dissonant notes of Philip Glass’s “Knee Play 2” from his opera “Einstein on the Beach” was being played during the show.

“With the turn of another season in our endless search for value, importance, and possibilities, it is through these collections that we continue our ever-expanding notions of beauty and craft,” Jacobs said. “With a controlled abandon and driving frenetic energy, we reflect on life beyond the studio.” 

For this Spring 2023 RTW collection, Marc Jacobs presented high-heeled platform shoes, peroxide wigs, Kiki platform shoes, punk verves, and more. There were also body-hugging garments bleached off or using denim, canvas, faux fur, patchwork, and crushed velvet, all reminiscent of the old punk movement. Jacobs also offered interesting, expressive, dramatic and creative silhouettes in volume and structure, of course, with punk elements. He also looked back at his own creations from early in his career: spiky and dyed hairstyles. There were oversized outwear shapes and draped gowns while textural patchwork and crushed velvet emphasized the punk aesthetic.  Long quilted coats, down jackets worn with skirts and knitwear, and wrinkled evening gowns perfectly portrayed Jacobs and Westwood aesthetic.

The Marc Jacobs Spring 2023 Ready-To-Wear had an incredible front-row, where the likes of Sofia Coppola, Ashley Graham, Nicky Hilton and Emily Ratajkowski, plus icons Debbie Harry, Debi Mazar and Anna Sui, sat on folding chairs in a spare and barely lit space.

Paying tribute to iconic celebrities can be tough, but for Marc Jacobs, the answer is no. He could perfectly portray Vivienne Westwood’s elegance and timeless style in his latest Spring 2023 collection. It seems he is grateful for all her contributions to the fashion industry and deep influence. Creative designers like Vivienne Westwood always needs to be remembered as THE designers. And, for sure, there will be plenty of Britain’s young designers who will continue paying tribute to her contribution in fashion.  

Below, see some of the boldest looks from Marc Jacobs Spring 2023.