Nothing stirs things up during fashion week like a high-profile out-of-towner, and Marc Jacobs played that role on Friday night, presenting his fall Marc by Marc Jacobs collection in London.

While this season, high drama ruled the runways here, Jacobs, with his sweet silhouettes and cozy fabrics, ended the week on a laid-back, wonderfully wearable note. Ice-skaters were his muses — and we’re not talking about the Tonya Harding sort, but the kind who wouldn’t feel out of place skimming along a frozen pond with Charlie Brown and company.

His girl would wear a hearty plaid toggle coat with cropped sleeves over a cranberry knit sweater and skirt, setting it off with a big fur hat and thick ribbed tights. Backstage, the designer described his models as “angelic, youthful boys and girls” — so even for evening the dresses emanated a certain innocence. One strapless dress, for instance, was painted plaid, while another boasted layers of striped faille.

All of this unfolded in the ballroom at Claridge’s, which Jacobs packed full of his friends, who included his ad campaign photographer Juergen Teller, his wife, Sadie Coles, and their two kids, Lola and Ed, who were both sporting Little Marc. The newly blonde Selma Blair joined Anita Pallenberg, and Rufus Wainwright, who was in town to perform his Judy Garland concert act at the Palladium Sunday.

Naturally, Sofia Coppola was there, too, as well as Vivienne Westwood. “Wow! This is a real London experience,” said the director, who had taken the train from Paris earlier in the day along with her partner, Thomas Mars, lead singer for the band Phoenix. Francesca Versace, daughter of Santo, was also in attendance, along with locals Giles Deacon, Nick Knight, Steven Jones and Naomi Campbell.

“It’s been amazing,” said Jacobs. “Everyone here has been so welcoming, and my team is so excited about showing in London.” It seems likely that the feeling will be mutual: English girls should enjoy Jacobs’ slouchy, cropped trousers, Mod-ish peacoats, and satchels, hats, and dresses trimmed in fur — a little like a breath of crisp autumn air blowing in from Main Street, U.S.A.



To view Marc by Marc Jacobs' full collection click here.