Alber Elbaz is a genius. There I've said it. Not only does this man know the fundamental staples that every woman needs in her wardrobe but also how to make us want more and more and more of the things we don't need but what we really REALLY want.
My first encounter with Lanvin feels like centuries ago in fashion terms. Spring/ summer 2010 to be exact. I was only then getting to grips with this whole 'fashion week' thing and completly happened upon by chance... Lanvin. ( I guess you could call it fashion fate) for this particular collection entranced and excited in a way clothes never had before. The pastel prom dresses and the folds in the material was entirely elegant and chic as was the draping of the material across the chest and around the hem. Hair was scooped up and twisted into messy buns atop the head, make up was dark and mysterious and I could have died for any one of those bags. The Lanvin girl was the girl for me.
And now, back in the present, Lanvin hasn't lost any of that cute charisma or lost the ability to draw in women from all parts of the world. For fall 2013/14, Elbaz again delighted with a dark display of the woman that seemed to haunt his dreams. 'Intimate, ageless, precious' is how the man himself described his work and I agree, hands down. We had that 'prom girl' feeling that seems to be a prominent part of any Lanvin collection as well as a little something new. Chunky necklaces inscribed with words such as 'hot' ' you' and 'cool' appealed hugely to younger ladies while for mothers, the overall quality of the dresses and fur stoles certainly did the trick. Grey shift dresses, puff-ball skirts, 1950's printed tea dresses and Cara Delevigne (of course) all stormed the catwalk in turn, displaying a sense of Parisian chic that one can not find in the mean streets of London.
Silky knee length dresses, as was seen at Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, made a clear point that night wear could be used for the day this season. Not a problem if you like that sort of thing. Grey tartan jackets needs to be thrown into the mix too, according to Lanvin and also Dolce & Gabanna who featured tartan coats in their show. And of course a pop of colour wouldn't go amiss during those cold winter days, I'm beginning to feel the cold already.
So, to Mr Elbaz, should he ever read this, I salute you and the intimate Lanvin woman you have created this season. A truly wearable and beautiful collection that once again did not disappoint your faithful fashion fans. So, what to buy first....?
