Marc Jacobs Challenges Nostalgia — and Waists — for Fall 2026

On Monday night, Marc Jacobs returned to the Park Avenue Armory on the Upper East Side to present his latest “Runway 2026” collection. Inside the historic venue, where the designer has presented countless times before, the overhead lights were on full blast, casting a pinkish bright white within the mostly vacant space. At showtime, the echoing melodies of Björk’s 1997 track “Joga” began to play, ushering in the cast of models.It seems Jacobs may have been at least semi-inspired by the recent wave of 2016 nostalgia, opening the collection with a choker V-neck sweater. The cutout knit was accompanied by a structured pencil skirt with a solid waistband, eliminating any natural shape of the body whatsoever.
Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
This expansion of Jacobs’ universe of awkward Polly Pocket-like silhouettes continues throughout the lineup. In contrast to last season’s spontaneously placed lumps and bumps and the cinched peplum pieces from February 2024, not a single Fall 2026 look offers any curvature in the frame. In fact, the designs feel like a direct protest of traditionally flattering clothing.Dresses and coats fell straight down the sides of each model, masking their bodies completely. Mini skirts appeared like perfect squares sitting just below each person’s ribcage, making some outfits look like a high-fashion geometry equation intended to be misunderstood.Beyond the straight-edge shapes, the garments were informed by past collections, of Jacobs’ and others’, all credited in the show notes. The harsh lines can be connected to Yves Saint Laurent’s 1965 Couture designs, while the various plaid skirt suits are derived from Jacobs’ own infamous Perry Ellis Spring 1993 show. Frilly, bejeweled button-down blouses inspired by Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2003 and acidic shades of chartreuse reimagined from Prada Spring 1996 are also embedded in the collection.
View the original article to see embedded media.
In his show notes, Jacobs explained these ideas, writing, “Surfacing on their own, memories shape, influence and inform. Free from nostalgia, recovering the past also reminds us that loss is inevitable and that hope is work. Memories, both bittersweet and beautiful, are a faculty of purpose influencing current and future actions — who we are, what we create, what we leave behind and what we carry forward.”He concluded, “We allow our senses and instincts to guide us, respecting the appearance of these thoughts by preserving them.”See every look from Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2026 runway below.
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
Marc Jacobs Fall 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs
We offer unique services and partnership opportunities for brands big and small to get in front of Fashionista’s community of 1M readers. Learn More.
Source link