Maximalist Minimalism Makes the Next Big Marc Jacobs Bag (EXCLUSIVE)
Marc Jacobs, the people's designer, knows what it takes to make a great bag. Uncomplicated, useful, and sturdy with a touch of sophistication: That's the Marc Jacobs Tote. But it's also the Marc Jacobs Dual bag, a minimalist bag with a maximalist rollout.
Debuted by Emily Ratajkowski, who also knows a thing or two about a thing or two when it comes to great daily driver bags, Marc Jacobs' Dual handbag represents a middle ground.
On one side, the knowingly graphic statement accessories that've secured Jacobs' eponymous label eternal relevance. On the other, the artful Marc Jacobs mainline offering, demarcated by drastically dolled-up shapes evocative of the punkish designer who originally inspired Jacobs: Kawakubo, Westwood, Sprouse.
As such, the Dual bag may seem an unlikely commercial play compared to Jacobs' typically overt inclinations (remember, this is the guy behind Jacobs By Marc Jacobs for Mac by Marc Jacobs... etc.).
Its minimalist leather façade reflects the current yen for those coveted crisp, clean carryalls, the branding pared back to a simple locking mechanism that mirrors the motif on Jacobs' Snapshot handbag.
And though it's available in proudly loud sequined denim, the Dual bag's best-selling form will likely be that of classic black leather.
However, though it was "conceived by Marc Jacobs to embody understated luxury and effortless practicality," according to a release, the Dual has been the subject of a minor publicity blitz. Here's where the maximalism comes in.
Part of Jacobs' Spring/Summer 2025 collection, the Dual launched with a campaign that encompassed front-row Jacobs heads like Bowen Yang and Tracee Ellis Ross, extended to an influencer-rich New York Fashion Week party, and culminates in an Emily Ratajkowski-fronted campaign that puts the new bag front and center.
It's a little odd that an understated handbag is the subject of a push this potent but hit bags don't happen by accident (usually).
And at prices that range from $350 to $500, Jacobs' Dual bag has got everything going for it
