Paris Fashion Week: Lanvin's tribal edge

Lanvin's Alber Elbaz is the auteur of the specific brand of imperfect glamour that has dominated clothing design over the last few years.

Because of him, asymmetrical ruffles, organza and grosgrain ribbon trim and unfinished seams have taken over T-shirts, jackets and dresses at every chain store on the planet, including J. Crew and Ann Taylor. Not to mention what he has done for the costume jewelry industry with his ribbon-strung pearls.

So he was right to sense that it is time to move on to something stronger, more aggressive and less ornamental.

Elbaz's fall collection for Lanvin was inspired by Africa in winter, not that he's been there, he said after the show. It was a trip taken from his couch, where he began thinking about primitive shapes and patterns, circles and squares.

That vision resulted in a look focused on sharp cuts rather than soft drape. Although it was architectural, it was still feminine. For example, shoulders were a focal point, and yet the models did not look like linebackers.

For daytime, a striking pumice-colored jacket had an interesting Cubist-looking volume, and an oversize, cocoa-colored coat struck a balance between power and elegance with dropped shoulders, a cinched waist and a skirted bottom.

A fierce-looking black shift had a shoulder line with a sharp, papery edge, and a row of crystals down the back. The incredible fan pleating radiating toward one shoulder on a gold lame blouse was mirrored by the pleating at the hip of the black skirt worn underneath.

The drama built to a finale of short dresses with a tribal edge, embellished with patches of fur, the glint of primitive-looking jewels and feather collars. "I wanted to bring back the purity of design," Elbaz said. "But keep it emotional."

Mission accomplished.

And although Elbaz originally intended his models to come down the spiral staircase at the top of the runway, he changed his mind at the last minute and had them ascend instead of descend, wreaking havoc on the production, hair and makeup staff set up at the top of the stairs.

"I would rather see women going up than coming down," he explained.

And that is why women love you.

-- Booth Moore in Paris

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Photos: Lanvin's fall 2010 runway in Paris. Credit: Peter Stigter & Jonas Gustavsson / For The Times

Comments

[Brandy]

Awesome collection!

[Lisa]

I love fashion as much as anyone, and Lanvin is one of my favorites. But I have been thinking a lot lately about how far behind the US is from the UK in terms of questioning designers about their labor policies. Ethical fashion is a huge industry in the UK and I only see glimmers of it in the US. It's almost as if the many fashionistas here would rather not know where or how the styles they covet are produced. I have no idea about Lanvin, or many of the other higher end and couture designers, but I do know that to assume that expensive garments are fairly traded is a mistake. I hope we'll catch up with the UK and start asking more questions..