Fashion Inspired: Marc Jacobs and Gustav Klimt

Marc Jacobs sent his models down the runway this past week during Fashion Week in New York (see the show in its entirety here) in large coats and even larger fur hats bringing to mind the elegant ladies painted by Gustav Klimt in turn-of-the century Vienna. Klimt’s female subjects, all part of high-society, were incredibly fashionable. More often than not they were dressed by Klimt’s lover and confidant Emilie Floge, who with her sister, Helene, operated a fashion boutique in Vienna called Schwestern Floge, or Floge Sisters.


Jacobs claimed that his latest collection was inspired by fashion eccentrics Anna Piaggi and Lynn Yaeger but I think that Jacobs, who has a first class art collection, had Klimt on his mind. 

Klimt and Jacobs have one more thing in common: both men are being celebrated in a major way this year. The city of Vienna is dedicating the entire year to Klimt with virtually every museum organizing an exhibition to celebrate his 150th birthday while the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris will explore Jacobs’ career next month in an exhibition called Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs.

Gustav Klimt, “The Black Feather Hat (Lady with Feather Hat)”, 1910. Oil on canvas.  Private Collection.

Gustav Klimt, Lady with Hat and Feather Boa, 1909, Oil on canvas. Private Collection.

Look from Marc Jacobs Autumn/Winter 2012 Ready-to-wear collection. Image taken from Style.com

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