Marc Jacobs Gets Honored At Parsons’ Annual Benefit

A chic set of over 900 gathered last eve to recognize Marc Jacobs (as well as LVMH) at the 67th Annual Parsons Fashion Benefit. Held at the River Pavilion at the Javits Center, the event featured a posh sitdown dinner, keynote speech by The New York Times’ Vanessa Friedman, and a runway show, which displayed the innovative designs of Parson’s latest talents, aka the 2015 graduating class. “We’re excited to see the new crop of talent,” Public School’s Maxwell Osbourne said. “And of course seeing Marc [Jacobs] getting honored.”

Anna Wintour presented Jacobs, a Parsons alum, his award post-runway show, which ran 45 minutes (fashionably) late but gave a heartwarming speech, even touching on the designer giving into Instagram at long last.

“Marc has zero interest in computers and finds social media appalling,” Wintour said. “Although he did join Instagram last month and gained 50,000 followers in 24 hours, which shows that people will follow Marc anyway.” Jacobs joined Wintour on the podium and took us back to his days of applying to the design school.

“I was cautioned by my high school guidance counselor about the exclusivity of the Parsons fashion program; how small the classes are and how difficult it could be to get accepted. This guidance counselor suggested I had a ‘Plan B’ [an alternative school],” Marc said. “Without hesitation, I said, ‘I have no Plan B, and I will go to Parsons, or I will go work in a video store!”

Other industry insiders in attendance included Marissa Webb, Danielle and Jodie Snyder, Donna Karan, Brian Atwood, Catherine Malandrino, and Ty Hunter. “As long as I’ve been into fashion, I remember excitingly awaiting Marc’s shows, whether at Vuitton, Marc Jacobs or Marc by Marc,” Wes Gordon told us. “He’s such a rock star in our industry, I get very starstruck!” Also on hand: “Blurred Lines” music video star-turned-actress, Emily Ratajkowski, who donned a blush form-fitting Jacobs dress for the occasion. “I love Marc’s current collection. It’s feminine and is a fun play on a certain time period while still being really modern.”

A handful of Parsons students were also honored at the bash: Lucy Jones won in the Womenswear Designer category, Jon Max Goh and Sungho Kim got top Menswear honors, Jennifer Lia Kim was recognized in the Childrenswear category (dozens of childrens models graced the catwalk, making for quite the Kodak moment), and Steffi Tsz Wing Lau took home the Accessories Designer award. The benefit, which raised over $1.7 million, ended avec dessert and rounds of Moet Hennessy champagne, toasting the new roster of talent, and, of course, Jacobs.

“In his years in fashion, it seems like Marc has lived more, seen more and survived more than most. And he somehow knows exactly what’s appropriate and what to draw inspiration from,” Wintour said. “Fashion should bring joy to the world, Marc once said, but Marc, it’s you who brings joy to the world.”