Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs: Highlighting the Highlands
By: Mari Davis
Photos by Javier Mateo

PARIS, Mar 8, 2004/ FW/ --- If the Louis Vuitton gentleman is ready to conquer the corporate world, the Louis Vuitton lady is ready to capture your heart with plaid and tartans.

Departing from his usual thrift-store inspired looks, Marc Jacobs went to the highlands of Scotland, mined the works of 19th century French artist James Tissot known for his ‘fashionable’ paintings of Victorian ladies and delved into the paintings of 20th century Japanese artist Tsuguharu Foujita who used French oil techniques in Japanese drawings.

The result – Highlander looks with the French elegance and Japanese sense of balance.

On a snow-covered runway, with the venue decorated with ice columns, Marc Jacobs sent his ladies wearing tartan coats trimmed with fur and body hugging cocktail dresses in criss-cross plaid.

James Tissot’s Victorian ladies appeared in the tartan taffeta, bustle bows, lace-framed décolleté, fur capelets and LV monogrammed mufflers and scarves.

And as always, the accessories are a main part of the show. Monogrammed Louis Vuitton handbags, the company’s bread and butter complemented most of the looks.

And in a season where the late Helmut Newton was mentioned in a quite a number of shows, Marc Jacobs dedicated the Fall 2004 Louis Vuitton collection to another great artist, Stephen Sprouse, who passed away this week from cancer.

Stephen Sprouse, who is also a personal friend of Marc Jacobs, collaborated on the famous Louis Vuitton graffiti bags.

Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs

Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs

Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs

Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs