While the high-waisted jeans, metallic leather prom dresses and crayola-bright capes were elegantly executed, it was the hairdos, shellacked into Mohawks, towers and quiffs and crazy 80s make-up that stole the show.
Read our review from Elles beauty assistant Georgia Collins, who was reporting backstage and watched the whole thing come together:
Marc Jacobs' A/W09 show was pure theatrical fantasy inspired by the decade that beauty usually tries to forget. This time around it seems, 80s excess is a little less serious and a lot more playful. Under Jacobs' vision, 'Dynasty' inspired bouffants and voluminous mohawks were heavily lacquered and paired with a full face of make-up. Dramatic black eyes were layered with coloured shadow, shimmering lips were slicked with gloss and powdered skin was sculpted with pops of fresh apricot blush.
With backstage supremo Guido Palau at the hair helm and the legendary make-up artist Francois Nars (returning from ten years in retirement to collaborate with Jacobs), it was never going to be the usual New York offering of glossy blow-dries and caramel complexions. 65 models each sported a different look - the backstage teams were under pressure. 'It's about extremes, about creating characters, experimenting and having fun with your look,' Palau told us. And with the constant doom and gloom of recession ringing in our ears, perhaps an antidote is just what we need, escapism through skyscraper chignons and wet-look smoky eyes - the inexpensive route to high fashion. If you can't afford the Jacobs dress then at least you can afford his look.
On Monday: optimistic make-up thats not over the top.
