Jacobs, whose designs exude a whimsical, nostalgic vibe, is clearly in tune with his fashion-conscious inner child. "I was very picky about what I wore as a kid," he says. "Even in the '60s and early '70s, it was all about thermals and terry cloth for me."
Of course, his childhood duds probably cost a lot less than Little Marc: The collection, for children ages 2 to 7, is priced from $195 for a pair of long johns to $395 for a zippered hoodie. This might come as a bit of a surprise, but Jacobs believes dressing kids in head-to-toe designer clothes is inappropriate, even tacky. He does, however, condone indulgence in small doses. "There's something really gross about dressing a kid in very expensive clothes," he concedes, "but I don't think there's anything wrong with giving a young kid a taste of the finer things in life, and instilling value, so long as they're taught how to take care of those things. My grandmother always said, 'I'd rather you have one very nice, high-quality sweater than six low-quality sweaters,' and that stuck with me."
Lest he come off as preachy, Jacobs acknowledges that in certain circles, there's something simply irresistible about a tiny cashmere top with an ultrachic label, whatever the cost. After all, he says, "I can't imagine any of my friends not wanting to spoil their kids rotten."
