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Marc Jacobs and men’s wear studio director Paul Helbers are peddling an energetic fashion-meets-function theme for spring, inspired by New York City’s risk-taking bike messengers. On a sandy asphalt surface and with honking horns shrilling from speakers, the duo started with a washed linen blazer in taxi yellow paired with rolled-up shorts to set a downtown rush-hour mood. From there, they juxtaposed cropped nylon hoodies with sports jackets and handsome, ribbed cotton sweaters. Calling their men “gentleman butterflies of the urban landscapes,” the designers employed wing patterns to create fluttering silk jacquard trenches and racing bombers. And, as guys prefer to travel light, parkas were packed in to small satchels. And what’s a messenger without his bag? A variety of sacs in messenger shapes, as well as oversize backpacks in ostrich leather, were slung over shoulders or worn across the body. – From Women’s Wear Daily