3 Review(s)

An important monograph on the complete work thus far of Alber Elbaz for Lanvin-one of fashion's most transformative designers working today, who employs mise-en-scenes as a principal way of staging his work. Under the helm of present design director Alber Elbaz, Lanvin is now one of the powerhouses of Paris fashion, and his respectful nod to the origins and founding aesthetic of Lanvin is tempered by an unrivalled, transformative energy that has created a new, youthful audience for the house. One of the pillars of Elbaz's work, apart from staging dynamic runway presentations, is a unique way of presenting his designs in the windows of their flagship stores, most notably in the boutique on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. These mise-en-scenes, which change every month, are well regarded as elaborate spectacles unique even in fashion. Seducing passersby into his very distinctive brand of street theatre and occasionally employing prominent artists of the day, Elbaz's windows are above all about the clothes, and his designs are given pride of place in a variety of elegant and often playful episodes.The book showcases the fashion and spirit of Lanvin with nearly two hundred compositions, from those shown at their boutiques to one-offs at the Crillon, and as far afield as Art Basel in Miami, as well as unpublished renderings of concepts hand-drawn by Elbaz.