LANVIN | SPRING / SUMMER 2012

Lanvin has a more romantic history than most labels. Jeanne Lanvin worked for a milliner until she had her first child when she started designing and making clothes for her daughter’s dolls and then for her daughter. Soon she began selling clothes to the milliner’s clients and her label has rapidly expanded since then.

Designer Alber Elbaz seemed to follow the heavy focus on black that was present at this season’s Paris Fashion Week. His severe black dresses featured high necklines and padded shoulders which seemed almost reminiscent of the eighties. Elbaz dismissed the idea that he was inspired by power dressing. He said he was more inspired by strength which the strong shoulders certainly achieved.

The slits in the dresses which revealed glimpse of flesh, silk fabrics and jewelled details gave the collection a more modern feel. Elbaz’s trademark draping seem to have been replaced by his use of slits in the fabric which gave an equally dramatic focus to each piece. Tuxedo jackets and sheer flowing skirts set off the more androgynous pieces and brought an Parisian elegance to the collection. The models wore heavy jewellery and dramatic jewellery which was set off by their slick hair and centre partings.

Alber Elbaz’s Spring / Summer 2012 collection was inspired by the downward spiral to hell and the jumpsuits showing coiled snakes contrasted with the large cross necklaces evoking the story of Adam and Eve.

- Emma Smee