Trust Alber Elbaz to add a bit of levity to a full day of Resort appointments. Slipping behind a desk at his Lanvin presentation this morning, he said, "I'm going to talk about lifestyle, because I heard that lifestyle brands are doing really well." Then he described typical moments in his clients' lives and the perfect Lanvin look for each. "Let's say you're on a yacht with your husband's friends and all they talk about is money," he began, and out came a draped and ruched silver stretch lamé minidress. Or "you're going to your aunt's funeral, but she left you everything." Including this fabulous multicolor glazed python trench! There were outfits for a job interview (black skirtsuit with loafer) and your first day on the job (fuchsia pantsuit and matching blouse), for your second dream wedding (a multilayer tulle confection with full skirts) and an appointment with your ex and his divorce lawyer (an embroidered gold brocade shift).
Elbaz took a wide-ranging approach to his new Resort collection, as he did for Fall. Given the season—clothes in stores for months before they go on sale, etc., etc.—its diversity will be a plus. The abundance of flats, even in one case a pair of holographic sneakers worn with a draped jersey dress, emphasized the lineup's carefree vibe. It was an attitude that was accentuated by the stretch neoprene that he said was developed by a bra company. Elbaz used it for all sorts of pieces, including a traffic-stopping red cocktail dress that, as he said, "hides all kinds of things, and shows off everything else." Who doesn't want that kind of lift?
