NEW YORK, Feb 11, 2006/ FW/ --- Continuing his approbation for layering, volume and draping this season, Marc Jacobs’ youthful line ‘Marc by Marc Jacobs’ delved into the youth’s footloose outlook and sent them journeying all over the U.S. including Europe as Marc Jacobs dressed them in traveling clothes.

But instead of jetset travelers, they backpack through Europe or drive a car in the interstates of the U.S. in their wide legged pants, paratrooper jumpsuits, and oversized shirts layered over with a snug fitting vest.

These are the youths of today, wherein fashion is an afterthought, while comfort and keeping warm is first and foremost. After all, they are the children of the Woodstock attendees, all grown up now and ready to take the world by storm just like what their parents did in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

And that is the zeitgeist of the current generation, that Marc Jacobs obviously has the pulse on his fingertips. Fashion like a pendulum swings and right now, the pendulum is swinging to a relaxed, almost rebellious from the very luxury upscale dressing of the 1990s.

But these kids are not going for thrift shop looks either. They want the classic silhouettes of Courrèges and artful approach of Comme de Garcons. They might be part of the pack, but they are also individualists, basking in their choices as they mix and match, layer and draped long floor length frocks with winter long coats, wear an arm warmer inside, then protect their heads and necks with ski caps and mufflers.

Some would say this is too much, or that it is an abomination to fashion. But, in all actuality, all of those who are saying those things also admired the élan of Woodstock when it broke the mold of ‘suit’ dressing and probably some of them were flower children at some point in time in their lives.

Gen X and Gen Y will probably not repeat Woodstock, but like all generations before them, they are trailblazing their own paths, so why not in their way of dressing? After all, they have freedom of choice like their parents before them.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc by Marc Jacobs