The Piece of Art That Is Marc Jacobs
Lately, I've become captivated by Marc Jacobs' content. It all began when the algorithm pushed a post of Marc during his "reading hour" onto my Instagram timeline.
In that particular photograph, he’s holding a book by James Baldwin in quite an exceptional pose. With a smoothened face, metallic-painted nails, and his fashion glasses on, he holds the book very gracefully. The book is perfectly positioned so the cover and title are clearly visible, while Marc seems deeply engrossed in its pages. Naturally, my immediate response was to Google the book and add it to my “want to read” list on Goodreads. As I searched for more book titles and posts from his “reading hour,” I noticed the consistency of his poses, the identical look in each photo, and his fascinating choice of books (more on that later). Each photo is paired with a caption that’s either dry and witty or sometimes more serious, consistently accompanied by the inspiring hashtags #readingisfundamental and #gratefulnothateful.
I became obsessed.
As a fellow glamorous book lover, I, of course, attempted to recreate his “reading hour” photo myself. I quickly realized this was easier said than done, so I left it to the pro and couldn’t stop devouring all his reading hour content. Scrolling back to one of the earliest posts I could find, dated October 22, 2022, I became more and more convinced that he must actually have read all these books. I was also impressed by the sheer volume—34 books between October 2022 and now (August 2024), with a remarkable 18 books read just in 2024!!
But then again, he’s in his 60s, though he looks much younger with a little help from modern medicine, and he’s already had a wildly successful fashion career. I suppose with age and experience, your mental space expands, allowing more room for reading.
What pulled me even deeper into his world, however, was something that started at the MET Gala last May: the moment he officially swapped his metallic nails for a full set of 3XL square-tipped nails adorned with rhinestones. These nails are not just a fashion statement or a form of rebellion. Marc has become deeply sensitive about the origins of this art form, as he explained in an interview with Vogue and in some of his posts, where he gives credit to his sources of inspiration from Black culture and style icons from the '70s and '80s, like the legendary Donna Summer and later in the 90s Lil’ Kim.
Returning to some other icons from the books—works by Bret Easton Ellis, Truman Capote, and Gore Vidal, among others—you can see that they also tell stories about race, society, and sexuality. Many of the shown novels have dark themes, written by authors who often hover on the edges of controversy. They tackle issues of race, sexuality, and social dynamics within the U.S.
Given the current political climate, his choice of books is especially intriguing. If you look closely, the long nails are not just a playful accessory. Marc Jacobs is a serious designer with a serious message. The nails are all about race and culture. He challenges his followers to look beyond the barriers that still exist in the U.S., and perhaps globally. Judging by his content, he seems to be someone who loves breaking boundaries, celebrating creators, while subtly critiquing society. He challenges us to think beyond our own knowledge and bubble, sparking new conversations with a touch (almost literally) of joy and glamour. If that isn’t the definition of a true artist, I don’t know what is.
Just like the authors of the books he showcases, Marc Jacobs himself—with his nails—is an important figure in highlighting cultures beyond his own. He is a true testament, a societal critic, a piece of art.
In the coming period, I’ll dive deeper into "The Books of Marc." I might even call it “Marc’s Book Club” and guide you through his full reading list.
Hope to see you next time!
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Very intriguing indeed and nice point of view!