Alber Elbaz - Lavin

The genius of Alber Elbaz lies in his ability to dazzle fashion insiders and consumers alike—editors swoon over the technical mastery behind each drape and seam, while regular women (well, not so regular if you consider the average Lanvin price tag) appreciate the way his clothes make them feel. His spring collection, filled with innovative silhouettes cast in rich, jewel-toned duchesse satin and plenty of imaginative shoulder options (one-shouldered; Dynasty-size proportions), didn’t disappoint.

A woman told me that every time she wears Lanvin, men fall in love with her.

HMP: What kind of women do you design for? 
AE: I love personalities. I don’t like just pretty girls. The moment I see a woman, my task is to find the piece that, when I put it on her, I will not see the clothes but I see her face. I don’t want to see a dress with a woman. I just want to see a woman. And fit doesn’t mean that it’s fitting the body. It has to fit her mind. Being an overweight designer, I’m very aware of comfort. We don’t only do clothes for 20-year-old girls. We can see the same piece worn by 20 and by 80. And I love that. I love to see old women. I love wrinkles. I love gray hair.