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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