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Fab Flash: Paris Mayor Honours Alber Elbaz

FabSugarUK — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:55:16 -0800

Lanvin's creative director Alber Elbaz was honoured in Paris on Friday by the city's Mayor, Bertrand Delanoë. Bertrand presented Alber with the Grande Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris which is an honour given to cultural figures who have an impact on the city.

Alber thanked Ralph Toledano from Chloé for “opening the doors to Paris” and Lanvin owner Shaw-Lan Wang for welcoming him to his current position where he has been for eight years. He commented on the reasons why he loves Paris saying, “There’s so many things. It’s a dream city and it’s a city of dreamers.” Congratulations Alber!

Stephanie Seymour and Alber Elbaz Talk Soup

FabSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:00:22 -0700

We all agree Stephanie Seymour has a perfect bod, and OK, I don't hate her, but did you know she can write too? She interviewed Lanvin's Alber Elbaz for Interview magazine - whom I happen to be intrigued by, he's so discrete yet so opinionated - and you can see what I mean by their chat over soup. I suggest you print this one out, there's lots of juicy bits . . .

For instance, have you ever noticed Lanvin's logo? In the spirit of Mother's Day, I'd like to point out it's a mother and daughter holding hands - original Lanvin designer Jeanne Lanvin and her daughter. When Elbaz took the helm at the house in 2001, he did not change the emblem. Elbaz explains, "I love and respect women. I work mostly with women. And you know, our logo for Lanvin is a mother and a daughter. I've always said, 'It's not a lion, and it's not a horse. It's a mother and a daughter.' I find the logo very emotional."

To read the rest, read more.

Another interesting fact: the entire Lanvin team eats lunch together every day. The interns are in charge of the food, and when they expressed annoyance for their seemingly mundane task, Elbaz replied: "I said to them, 'By going out and buying food for everyone, you'll get to know Paris, and you can practice your French.' I think when our relationship starts with food bringing people together, it gets deeper."

The last indicator Elbaz knows his stuff: he admits women are better drivers than men. "It's so important to have that intuition of women, that only women can give. Have you ever seen a man drive, Stephanie? They will never ask for directions, even if they're lost . . . women will ask 70 people in the first second - but they will get there sooner."

Intrigued as I? Read the rest on Interview's site.

Fab Blab: Alber Elbaz

FabSugarUK — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:30:39 -0700

Last week Lanvin opened a womenswear store in London and Alber Elbaz used the event to pamper the ladies. Today Alber has spoken about the importance of luxury treats, despite the recession, particularly red lipstick. He said,

"But, you know, it's almost like that moment when someone is told they have a disease. Either you say, OK, let me die now, or you say, I'm going to buy a beautiful dress, I'm going to go forward and I'm going to go back to lipstick. And do you know what? A good shoe or a good dress does something to you. It's not just about fashion victims. It really does do something for all women.”

The current financial climate does seem like an unusual choice of timing to open a new luxury fashion boutique, but he insists it's not because they got a "good deal". Alber added, "Of course, we've all lost money, we're not on the street though, and in order to feel better, to go forward you have to look good, you have to feel good." Like other designers before him, he insists that the recession could be a good thing.

To hear his thoughts on the credit crunch, just read more.

"You remember what was going on just a year ago, there was so much product, the bigger the better, and it was all moving so fast that there was almost no value to anything. Now that everything is more cut back and lean maybe we understand the importance of certain things, maybe we can appreciate them more."

This season Alber insists he is not dictating what to wear as fashion. He is inspired by global events and current affairs. Besides, he rightly states that fashion is not about that any more,

"You know, in the Nineties designers insisted their clothes should be worn a certain way or styled in a certain direction but I don't think that works any more. Fashion designers – and design in general – should no longer be about dictating. It's unrealistic and irrelevant to every day life."

What do you think of Alber's thoughts on the recession? Do you think there is still place for luxuries as a pick-me-up?

Source

Behind the Seams: Lanvin Opening

FabSugarUK — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:00:56 -0700

Alber Elbaz was in town last night for the opening of Lanvin's new Mount Street store. He operated a ladies only policy in the day as he showcased the Spring collection. Vogue fashion director Lucinda Chambers explained, "Alber talked as each model came out and gave us lots of little details about the creation of each one and lovely anecdotes about his life in fashion." In the evening the women were joined by Stephen Jones, Jefferson Hack, Juergen Teller and Bryan Ferry as the party got underwear.

Yasmin Le Bon, Anouck Lepere, Samantha Cameron and Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman partied the night away in Mayfair. On their way out they were presented with 'I heart London' t-shirts, what a nice touch Alber!

To see images from the party, just read more.

View 8 Photos ›

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Sneak Preview of Lanvin Pre Fall

FabSugarUK — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:00:28 -0800

Alber Elbaz has just revealed his pre-fall line for Lanvin. In these tough economic times the luxury fashion industry has taken a bit of a battering but Alber has put a positive spin on it. He told WWD, “When the market crashes, it’s best to invest in gold,” so he's created a glamorous dream world. The collection includes luxe fabrics, ruffles and voluminous fur. Waist are clinched and carefully draped fabrics add shape around the waist and shoulder. See below for images of some of the pieces.

View 6 Photos ›

Photos by Talaya Centeno, Source

Simply Fab: Lanvin Dolls

FabSugarUK — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:23 -0800

If the Sonia Rykiel snowglobe didn't take your fancy then maybe you'll be more impressed by these Lanvin porcelain figures. Representing the best of Summer 2008 the seven hand painted figures were designed by Alber Elbaz and are a nod to the post-war Theâtre de la Mode show which couturiers used to use to show off their collections. This is the second collection to be released and feature the Summer collection '08 and also highlights from the bridal line. They are limited edition with only 800 being available and are presented in a pale blue Lanvin box.

They are available at Browns stores.

Source

Fab Blab: Alber Elbaz Gets Emotional

FabSugarUK — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:00:50 -0800

I always think that Alber Elbaz, the creative director of Lanvin seems adorable. The Israeli designer has been at Lanvin since 2001 and the collections seem to keep getting better.

This week he spoke to WWD and expressed the need to be emotional. “Today I want to have an emotional dinner. I don’t want to speak about the weather. I know what it’s going to be like for the next 10 days. We have the Internet. I don’t want to go to a movie and see people jumping. For that I have the Olympics. I want to cry and I want to laugh, but I don’t just want to see people jumping. With clothes, it’s the same thing. I think it’s all about emotion.”

He also spoke about his supportive boyfriend, how fashion is like French food and how Tom Ford ousting him at YSL nearly made him quit fashion for medicine. Read more excerpts from the interview here.

Source

Simply Fab: Lanvin Colour Pencils

FabSugarUK — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 04:00:50 -0700

It has been revealed this morning that Alber Elbaz likes coloured pencils so much that he is to release a limited edition set! The box named “20 years of Supracolor by Alber” features a Parisian carrying Lanvin shopping bags. Supracolor’s maker, Swiss company Caran d’Ache approached Elbaz following a magazine interview which revealed them as his favourite brand.

Elbaz told WWD, "My Supracolor pencils are more than a working tool. They are indispensable.” There will only be 1,988 sets available (a nod to the year they were created) from Lanvin's Paris boutique from tomorrow (25th September). Each set will contain 120 pencils and will form part of the boutiques window display for Paris Fashion Week.

Fab Flash: Karl Lagerfeld Dreams of Being a Rapper

FabSugarUK — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:00:04 -0700

The first time I lay my beedy eye on this picture I thought somebody had been very clever with photoshop. I could not believe the Kaiser himself would dress in such a way, however, it is taken from this month's US Harpers Bazaar where designers are fulfilling their fantasies.

Giorgio Armani as Fred Astaire, Karl Lagerfeld as a rapper ("Believe it or not, I love rap," finally we find out what is on all those ipods) and Alber Elbaz as a Hollywood producer with James Bond flair.

It has also been revealed today that Karl Lagerfeld is illustrating a fashion story for British Vogue. This week he hosted a party in St Tropez but it seems the designer who never sleeps has taken to a more personal approach to parties by hand-painting invitations himself!

Source

Fab Blab: Karl Lagerfeld Thinks London is Demode

FabSugarUK — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:00:26 -0700

Numero magazine recently caught up with Karl Lagerfeld and Alber Elbaz to ask them about life in Paris, the demise of Haute Couture and their Mothers. At one point we see Alber get slightly irritated by Karl as he refuses to define his nationality. Having lived in Paris for the majority of his life, you might think that Karl considered himself to be a Parisian however this is apparently not so. "I like to think of myself as an inside stranger, no matter where I happen to be." Alber pushes him asking if he is German, French or American.

"I suppose you could call me European, although I tend to forget once I cross the Atlantic. When I was young, I always felt as though I was missing the party whenever I left Paris. These days, I just take the party along with me."

To find out why Karl thinks London is demode read more

Earlier in the interview Alber describes Paris as a, "terribly grand and yet laid-back old Dame" following his comparison of London, Paris and New York. Karl is almost disgusted arguing, "Don't tell me you ever thought that London was any better. Please! New York, perhaps, but not London."

On behalf of the people of London, I'd like to formally state that we're offended. All those in favour say "Aye".
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