Marc Jacobs may be the king of the runway, but these days, he is also the king of the “scroll.” The legendary designer, who boasts over . million followers on Instagram, recently sat down for a Zoom chat to discuss his latest gig as a judge for “Instagram Rings,” a new awards program honoring the platform’s most creative minds.
While his feed is a masterclass in high-fashion selfies and “Outfit of the Day” posts, Jacobs admits he wasn’t always a fan of the digital world. In fact, he used to be a total social media skeptic.
From ‘Anti-Social’ to ‘Addicted’
“For someone who was so anti-Instagram in the very, very beginning, I really took to it,” Jacobs shared. “Once I got into it, I just couldn’t get enough of it. I feel like I’m quite addicted to Instagram. It’s the first thing I see in the morning and kind of the last thing I see before bed.”
Like many of us, Jacobs finds himself stunned by the dreaded weekly screen-time reports. He confessed to feeling “horrified” when the notification pops up on his phone. “I know it’s true, but then my mind goes, ‘That’s not possible. I couldn’t have possibly been on my phone that much,'” he joked.
The designer explained that his evolution came from realizing he is a natural extrovert who loves to “show off” his new haircuts, bags, and nails. “I love hearing that people hated it or they loved it,” he added, noting that the app has reconnected him with old friends and introduced him to fascinating new creators.
Up to His Eyeballs in Labubus
If you follow Jacobs, you have likely seen his frequent posts featuring Labubus—the trendy art toys that have taken the fashion world by storm. However, the designer hints that the “floodgate” might finally be closing on his collection.
“I think we’re doing good with what I have now,” he said of the quirky figures. “I’m kind of up to my eyeballs.”
The obsession started when makeup mogul Pat McGrath showed him a Labubu on her bag. Jacobs admits he initially swore he wouldn’t get into the trend, but the irony of the “trendy bandwagon” eventually won him over. “Perhaps I’ll just turn them over to some young person who’s still interested in them,” he mused.
A ‘Sexy’ Scripted Future?
With the recent premiere of Sofia Coppola’s documentary “Marc by Sofia” at the Venice Film Festival, the conversation naturally turned to whether Jacobs would ever consider a scripted series about his life. His answer was an enthusiastic yes—provided a certain TV titan is at the helm.
“Would I do it? Yeah, if Ryan Murphy did it,” Jacobs revealed. “It would be very sexy and so kitsch. I would love it.”
When asked if his life story would fit better under Murphy’s “Monster” anthology or “American Horror Story,” Jacobs didn’t hesitate. “I am definitely American Horror Story all the way. [Laughs]. Ask anybody around me. They’ll tell you that I am an American Horror Story.”
Judging the Next Generation
As a judge for Instagram Rings alongside stars like Spike Lee, Yara Shahidi, and Ilona Maher, Jacobs is looking for creators who provoke a visceral reaction. He searched for accounts that made him laugh, taught him something new, or showcased something never-before-seen—like Angelica Hicks, who recreates runway looks using household items.
The designer also touched on the polarizing topic of AI in fashion, admitting he has become a believer in ChatGPT despite the “scary” side of the technology. “Everything can be used as a tool for good and to build, or for bad and destruction,” he noted.
As the fashion world waits for the Instagram Rings winners to be announced on Oct. , one thing is certain: whether he is scrolling past midnight or showing off a new manicure, Marc Jacobs will be right there in the comments with us.
