CAMPAIGN WATCH II - FALL 2009

For round two of our Fall Campaign watch I thought it was only appropriate to choose Lanvin - since I referenced the disturbingly gorgeous Kristen McMenamy in our first round.    Alber Elbaz is a favorite of aLIFEofSTYLE as regular readers know.   His Fall collection for Lanvin is Parisian chic at it's best.   The design is superb and the execution by the house of Lanvin is exquisite.  ALBER ELBAZ  Elbaz chose master photog Steven Meisel to bring this collection to life.   As if Mcmenamy was not alarming enough with her severe look - enter a black cat or two to really get your attention.   They say it is bad luck for a black cat to cross your path - but I guess your not worried about luck once you let one climb on your face.   After all, who would be worried about luck when you look like this and can dress like that!    The look is unmistakably French, crossed with an uber chic Lilly Munster goes to Paris vibe.  Brilliant!

To shop the collection, visit Net-a-Porter.com now. 

Elbaz Bets On Black -LANVIN Fall 2009

Alber Elbaz kept his stride with yet another beautiful collection for Lanvin.   The debut of his fall 2009 collection in Paris received rave reviews, something that is becoming a staple each season.   Here's why:

Elbaz has managed to resurrect the spirit of Lanvin while making it feel modern in three ways.

First -he has continually utilized typically French detailing such as rouching, pleating, and imaginative draping. 

Second - Elbaz gives his customers color that they can wear - not colors that wear them.    

Third and perhaps most important - Alber continues to inject newness in each collection - giving his customers a reason to buy something from each new offering.   This is key especially in the times in which we are living.

What a pleasure to watch a creative designer continue to grow and develop his relationship at a  fashion house.   This season Elbaz made a statement by showing mostly black on the runway.   Something he had not done for the first few seasons with Lanvin.   It is a natural progression.   After all the bold statements in print and color - he could tackle the more challenging task of making black look new and exciting.   There were a few shots of color - but the overall statement was sexy - yet somber - which was spot on.

Bravo for Elbaz and for Lanvin!   Fashion Houses take note - this is how it's done!  It takes patience and trust for a house to achieve success with a new creative director/ designer.   Too often - it doesn't work.   For this reason the powers that be at Krizia must be kicking themselves.  Readers might remember - Elbaz designed one of the most beautiful collections in recent memory for the house that received rave reviews back in the fall of 2000.   However, due to the micro managing the long suffering house is known for the relationship ended after only a few months.   Unbelievable since that one collection was the only positive press that Krizia has received in possibly a decade .  Even the naming of the collection Krizia "Top" - left you thinking - where is Krizia "bottom"?   I was at that show in Milan and it took my breath away.   The collection had an African theme brought to life with the sophistication of YSL himself. 

During a time when few are excited about the fashion industry - Alber Elbaz leaves us wanting more.

Jeanne Lanvin's Sweet Smell of Success

French Fashion house Lanvin has been smelling the sweet smell of success ever since they named Alber Elbaz as the new creative director.   In a short period of time Elbaz has been able to breathe new life into one of the original Paris Couturiers.  

Jeanne Lanvin made her mark on the fashion world in a very interesting manner.  Her career began as a milliner much like Coco Chanel.   Unlike Chanel however, Lanvin had gone the respectable route for a young lady at that time.   She married a wealthy businessman before she started her business.   Her success in fashion actually came from designs for her daughter.  She realized that her little girl's classmates had the richest mothers in Paris.  Her daughter became her mini muse and the mothers started to request these handmade garments for their own girls - and ultimately for themselves.  

Lanvin was known to use intricate embroideries and healthy doses of floral color.   A contemporary, Paul Poiret was also was known for his use of color and embroidery.   The two designers had something else in common - they both had their illustrations created by artist and journalist Paul Iribe.  Iribe was quite a character and worked many of the major designers of the day including Coco Chanel.   It is said the two were even engaged at one point, but engaged in what is the question!  
Lanvin loved Iribe's work and commissioned him to create the company Logo that celebrated the mother / daughter theme.   The logo is still used today and is prominently displayed on the new Fragrance bottle top.

Alber Elbaz is paying homage to the namesake of the house with the launch of Jeanne.   Each bottle is hand tied with a piece of pink tulle ... so delicate..  the scent itself is a beautiful blend of floral and musky tones.    Sweet Peony and deep Sandalwood provide a perfect contradiction for this wonderful fragrance.  Visit Barney's asap before it is sold out.  

Fashion designers take note..  if planning to launch a new scent - this is how its done!

COLOR POPS AT LANVIN

LANVIN

Alber Elbaz did it again.  He managed to take your breath away with his perfect pitch of color, drape, and proportion with the collection he showed for Spring 2009.   Elbaz has become known for his use of bright color - but in a completely wearable approach.   This is not Cindy McCain Crayola time -NO, this is feminine and chic and oh so sexy.   

 It is so refreshing to see this much talent - not associated with one of the mega- houses.   You don't look at the collection and think of the marketing team giving feedback, the sales team guiding shapes, the design team tweaking... you just think of a man being creative and expressing his ideas

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