Still Speechless After a Morning with Alber

obviously it would have been precarious to take photos, so here is the "public" invitation

illustrations by Alber; silly stickers by your bunny (quite the ahhhrteeest, non?)

Women simply adore Alber Elbaz (and by extension, Lanvin) owing to his love and appreciation of real women: sans the plastic or pretension. It was an absolute dream to spend Monday morning with him – quite candidly my favorite designer of our era – and Mr. Mickey exploring the showstopping Lanvin Spring 2009 collection (with a few previously unseen Cruise 2009 gems thrown in for good measure)! 

Lanvin Spring 2009*

As per usual, comfort was of cardinal priority throughout the design process. Even the seemingly 'structured' garments felt lighter than a feather on the skin: a truly remarkable feat bearing in mind the weighty heft of similarly shaped Giambattista Valli frocks. 

The kooky throwback resort garments (think more "contemporary" items like t-shirts emblazoned with Alber's whimsical sketches not unlike the invitation above) were reasonably priced considering their handiwork, style level, and refined fabrication; while the Acne Jeans collaboration was the epitome of 'cool kid meets easy breezy chic' [below]: 

Lanvin Cruise 2009 [also feat. Acne line] with Suzy Menkes

About 70% of the bags were entirely vegan – perhaps stemming from his dear kinship with fellow Israeli Natalie Portman or a reworking of F/W 2008's cruelty-free (by default) ribbon motif – the most electrifying of which sprang from Spring 2009's interludes of vibrant leopards, insane new crystal studded versions of last season's cult shapes, and Cruise 2009's Elbaz-doodled beach totes with PVC handles. 

Ogling Alber's deco-gone-glam jewelry and flossy flossy bedazzled heels was pure sensory overload: 

And yes, Alber is that twinkling and warmhearted in person! I did feel slightly maladroit since I had just broken one of his F/W 2008 bags* in a taxi door earlier that morning and hastily replaced the stunning Jeanne Lanvin charms with little bunnies from a quaint shop in Pennsylvania found deep within the recesses of said bag. He didn't seem to mind... 

bunny BISOUS, 

xx jules 

If you're in Gotham Tuesday or Wednesday be sure to stop by Barney's 2nd floor on Madison & 61st. See invitation [above] for details. To my knowledge Alber will not be in store again – but his all-embracing, voluptuous, fresh-from-the-runway frocks will!

*Total major coincidence: many thanks to Tim Blanks (brilliant host of the style.com videos, including the one at top) for helping me find the then-new black Lanvin bag lost in the kerfuffle of Ikram's annual post-McQueen Indian fête. By now that bag must be on its ninth life! 

Comments

[jeanie]

I live for Alber he's clothes are so beautiful if i could own a whole collection it would be thatxxxx

[modelizer]

I met Alber last year at Saks while he was doing a signing and wore a tee shirt that I made in my silkscreen class that said "Rub on my tat tats Alber Elbaz" which he LOVED, had his assistant take a photo of us together for himself, and signed it! All without me asking him to do so. One of the sweetest men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Also look at what I found: http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/frakes-doesn-t-eat-steaks-vegan-nymphet-takes-bewildered-city-storm

Congrats! <3

[Anna]

Our styling teacher was going to the same school with Alber in Israel and she told us the funniest stories about him...it would be so wonderful to meet him! And I wanted to say that I adore you outfit from altamira nyc street blog :)

[La Fee]

I love Alber! He is like my hero haha
--<-@

[Lucy]

oooo that's a beautiful bag! Alber Elbaz is a fashion genius...what an honor to meet him! :)

[ray]

oh god !! lucky u :)

[janie]

Great combination of pieces on a true gentleman!