Kristin Patrick, the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Digital Officer at Marc Jacobs since 2024, offers an insightful look into the daily rhythms that drive her leadership in one of fashion's most dynamic roles. Based in New York City, she navigates a multifaceted position that demands both creative vision and rigorous business sensibility amid a global reboot aimed at centering digital initiatives and storytelling.
Her workday begins early, reflecting a habit of immersing herself in a range of information to map the world’s evolving cultural and commercial terrain. Rising at 6:30 a.m., Patrick immediately engages with respected publications such as The Information, Rest of World, and Highsnobiety. This diverse media diet allows her to track hard business intelligence, global technological progress, shifts in financial markets, and emerging cultural trends — a combination that serves as a compass for her strategic decisions. To complement this intellectual intake, she also includes a personal ritual: checking her horoscope as a Gemini, which adds a moment of reflection to her morning.
By 7 a.m., her routine shifts toward energizing activities. Preferring to start her day with strong coffee rather than breakfast, she makes her own at home, favoring a vanilla-flavored Dunkin’ blend — a nod to her Massachusetts roots. Music plays an essential role in setting the tone for her day; a current playlist featuring artists such as SZA, Charli XCX, and Burna Boy, along with an occasional trust in Spotify’s algorithm, encapsulates her preference for sounds that feel modern and vibrant. Before leaving for work, she practices Wim Hof breathing exercises, emphasizing mindfulness and physical readiness.
Embracing New York’s urban landscape, Patrick describes her commute on foot as an invaluable experience. Walking through the city serves as a live study in style and culture, where she observes trends ranging from streetwear fashions to details of commuting behaviors. This time not only offers practical transit but also vital immersion in the environment influencing her work. When she is in Los Angeles, however, her commute is replaced by a direct transition into a home office and virtual meetings.
Her workday officially begins at 9 a.m., but she stresses that each day varies widely. The nature of her role means alternating rapidly between tasks such as reviewing campaign creative concepts, analyzing financial models aimed at e-commerce expansion, and refining customer relationship management segmentation. This constant shift embodies the hybrid nature of her responsibilities — merging artistic creativity with analytical rigor.
Around 11 a.m., she focuses intensely on integrating creativity and sound business strategy. Patrick identifies this synthesis as both the most demanding and most exhilarating aspect of her job. She articulates the challenge of remaining proactive in spotting cultural trends rather than reacting after they emerge, a dynamic she describes as the source of her professional “magic.” Balancing the creation of compelling collections and marketing campaigns with ensuring measurable profitability is a core tension that energizes her and drives transformative results within the company.
Lunch, typically around 1 p.m., is approached with practicality. Located in the SoHo neighborhood, the Marc Jacobs office offers numerous options for quick meals, with Balthazar mentioned as a favorite. This midday pause also serves an important personal function — connecting with her college-aged daughter to check on her day. Patrick describes this connection as a grounding ritual that provides balance amidst a demanding work schedule.
By mid-afternoon, she adopts a productivity method tailored to her working style. She eschews rigidly scheduled calendars in favor of intense, focused periods segmented by resets, a system she describes as 'chaos with structure.' This approach enables her to maintain high energy and momentum despite a variable schedule. Additionally, Patrick applies a practical technique to email communication, invoking a ‘three-line rule’ to encourage brevity and favor real-time calls when more complex dialogue is required, thereby accelerating workflow.
At approximately 3 p.m., Patrick allows herself a brief indulgence to recharge — a quick treat from a gumball machine situated near the e-commerce team, coupled with a walk alongside her daughter's dog, Beatrice, who is welcome in the dog-friendly office. These moments of physical activity and playful respite offer a valuable mental break that refreshes her perspective for the afternoon's demands.
As the official workday nears its close at 5 p.m., Patrick reflects on her achievements with clear criteria: she asks herself whether she has contributed meaningfully, learned something new, and experienced joy during the day. Affirming these points encapsulates her measure of a successful day.
Post-work hours are dedicated to physical exercise, predominantly through Pilates or spin classes, which she regards as her form of meditation and a means to reset energy and focus after work. Dinner arrangements vary—though ideally at home, she often enjoys dining out with friends or family, particularly favoring Italian cuisine. When home, she prioritizes protein-based meals; yet extensive travel, a hallmark of her career, frequently disrupts these routines. Despite travel’s challenges, Patrick embraces its unpredictability, tapping into the inspiration found within new cities to inform her fashion and cultural sensibilities.
Her day concludes with digital engagement around 10 p.m., scrolling through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest to maintain an up-to-date pulse on prevailing trends and popular culture before resting for the night.
Kristin Patrick’s daily regimen illustrates a harmonious integration of cultural awareness, creative inspiration, business strategy, and personal grounding. Each aspect complements the others, constructing a detailed framework by which she leads Marc Jacobs through evolving industry landscapes.