Marc Jacobs Fall 1999 Ready-to-Wear Collection

Editor’s note: This year was a big one for Marc Jacobs, who marked his 40th anniversary in fashion and became the first guest editor of American Vogue. We’re closing out 2024 with an archival look back at the designer’s career. This fall 1999 collection, presented in SoHo on February 15, 1999, has been digitized as part of Vogue Runway’s ongoing efforts to document the history of fashion shows.

A muted palette of browns, grays, and lavenders suited the demure mood at Marc Jacobs for fall 1999. One of the highlights of the collection was the chunky knits, which included hoodie-style cardigans, pullovers, and floor-sweeping striped scarves. Tailoring subtly borrowed elements from military and westernwear (there were cow-print skirts), and the dressier numbers looked somehow modest. Apronlike dresses, empire-waist frocks, and Hester Prynne–ish capelets had Melanie Rickey of The Independent dubbing the vibe “prairie chic meets rustic street.”