Happy 49th birthday, Marc Jacobs!

Jacobs has had a topsy-turvy year, one in which the ASA banned his Dakota Fanning perfume ad, the blogosphere targeted him for not paying his New York models (with money, at least) and the CFDA scolded him for using underage models on his runway.

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And yet, because he is Marc Jacobs and because his fashion is simply that brilliant, the designer still had a banner year. He kicked it off with a stunning, dark Louis Vuitton show (in which Kate Moss walked the grand finale with a cigarette dangling from her hand), was immortalized as a “South Park” character, saw a museum exhibit mounted in his honor, was considered for the prestigious Christian Dior job, launched yet another fragrance and just announced plans to expand into cosmetics (!).

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And, of course, he still looks amazing. It was only a few years ago that Marc underwent his major transformation, blossoming from a slightly schlubbier version of himself into the bronzed, tattooed glamazon we know him as today (seriously, check out his beach bod).

See a look back at his famous friends and looks over the years HERE.

Story by ELLIE KRUPNICK at The Huffington Post