Why Sofia Coppola is Marc Jacobs’ ultimate muse

Marc Jacobs knows how to create a social media stir. Last night the designer shared an image of his latest AW15 campaign star: director Sofia Coppola. Coppola joins Jacobs' campaign crew which already boasts Cher, Willow Smith, Winona Ryder and Red Hot Chilli Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis as members. In the David Sims-shot image, Coppola, who recently garnered media attention for dropping out of The Little Mermaid, sits in profile, dressed in the designer’s Diana Vreeland-inspired collection. Jacobs captioned the image with a lengthy recap of their friendship and collaborations – from meeting in the early 90s after Jacobs’ now infamous “Grunge” show for Perry Ellis, to collaborating with her on several handbag collections. Here's what Jacobs had to say about his muse.

“This next photo I am ‘leaking’ is (along with Cher's portrait) one of my very favourites from this ‘album’ photographed by David Sims of our Fall/Winter collections. I met Sofia Coppola just after I showed my now ‘credited’ (by some!) GRUNGE collection for Perry Ellis in 1992. Sofia was one of the few who recognised something special and related to what I was doing at that time. She wanted to meet me, and when we did, it was love at first sight for me!”

“Not only was I attracted to how she looked, her sense of style, I was drawn to her manner, her behavior, her life, her ambitions and creativity... She represented everything I am drawn to – talent, style, creativity, a unique ‘vision and voice’. She had then and has now an interest in fashion not as an art but rather part of the ‘art of living’. Like good books, good music, beautiful interiors, art. She makes films that are creative and unique in their tone. While they do have a style they are not the ‘blockbuster Hollywood’ type movies that adhere to a formula or an accepted commercial cast. We became great friends immediately.”

“I write all of this to say, that from that point of my life and to this day, I am so deeply inspired by that time in my life. Meeting Sofia, having met and worked with Steven (Meisel), the many years I collaborated with Juergen Teller, the work of David Sims and the late Corinne Day. As I write this and look at all the portraits of David's beautiful campaign, it touches me so deeply to see the profound effect this cast has on my life and work.”