ALBER ELBAZ LEAVES LANVIN

He shall definitely be missed at the helm of Lanvin. Alber Elbaz’s brusque departure from the fabled Maison after 14 blockbuster years is leaving a mark. “I have always loved Elbaz. He reinvented the raw-edge and injected a modern twist into high-glam dresses. His departure will be hard to digest unless he will be replaced by a marquee name but if there are financial restrains, then it’s hard. Maybe someone young, eager for a challenge,” says Antonia of the recent development.
Applauded for his couture-like sensibility, the Israeli-born designer is known for his affable ways and jovial personality.Lanvin is owned by Shaw-Lan Wang and run by chief executive officer Michèle Huiban. Wang bought Lanvin in 2001 and tapped Elbaz to resurrect the storied French house. He did so with a extremely sharp design codes - dreamy cocktail dresses, bold costume jewelry, ballerina flats and embellished sneakers, all with a modernist undercurrent. “I’ve always loved his mood, the joyfulness that he pours into his dresses. His sense of femininity can turn around any brand,” says Antonia.Could he be headed to Dior, following Raf Simons’ exit last week? Regardless, “Vive Alber, his fashion and his modern couture,” muses Antonia. “I will always follow him.”