The 30 Best Looks by Alber Elbaz at Lanvin
Photo: Imaxtree, Getty Images
News came Wednesday that Alber Elbaz was leaving after over a decade at Lanvin. Ever since his debut collection during the fall of 2002, he set an unabashedly feminine, evening-ready aesthetic. Certain Elbaz signatures — elegant ruffles, Grecian-style draping, vivid jewel tones — have become closely associated with the brand. He even inspired an H&M collaboration. Click ahead to take a look back at his best work.
Fall 2002 For his first collection, Alber established what would be his signature aesthetic. There were gauzy dresses, bejeweled accessories, and...
Fall 2002 For his first collection, Alber established what would be his signature aesthetic. There were gauzy dresses, bejeweled accessories, and plenty of draping. Also, this red coat would reappear seasons later.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Spring 2003 He followed up his debut collection with a glitzy, evening-friendly spring runway show. The opening look was a pale-pink tiered ruffl...
Spring 2003 He followed up his debut collection with a glitzy, evening-friendly spring runway show. The opening look was a pale-pink tiered ruffle dress accented with a giant rhinestone necklace, reinforcing his point of view on how women should dress.
Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix
Fall 2003 Alber loved femininity; his pieces always had a sense of lightness to them. Here, Liya Kebede wears a lacy black look that was sexy yet...
Fall 2003 Alber loved femininity; his pieces always had a sense of lightness to them. Here, Liya Kebede wears a lacy black look that was sexy yet still left something to the imagination.
Photo: Getty Images/2003 Getty Images
Spring 2004 Alber was a master at incorporating jewel tones, which looked especially rich in these silk dresses.
Photo: JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/2003...
Spring 2004 Alber was a master at incorporating jewel tones, which looked especially rich in these silk dresses.
Photo: JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/2003 AFP
Fall 2004 What would Lanvin be without Alber coming out in his signature suit complete with bow tie? It only made sense to feature a women's vers...
Fall 2004 What would Lanvin be without Alber coming out in his signature suit complete with bow tie? It only made sense to feature a women's version of his outfit.
Photo: MARTIN BUREAU/2004 AFP
Spring 2005 This is everything you could love about Lanvin in one look. Liya's Grecian gown featured shiny sequin accents and delicate pleating, ...
Spring 2005 This is everything you could love about Lanvin in one look. Liya's Grecian gown featured shiny sequin accents and delicate pleating, and it looked as light as air.
Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix
Fall 2005 That red coat from Alber's debut? Here's another version of it, though naturally it wouldn't be complete without some sparkly adornment...
Fall 2005 That red coat from Alber's debut? Here's another version of it, though naturally it wouldn't be complete without some sparkly adornment.
Photo: Pool BASSIGNAC/ROSSI/BASSIGNAC-ROSSI /GAMMA
Spring 2006 Black grosgrain ribbon necklaces were another Alber signature, as seen here on Lisa Cant.
Photo: Pool BASSIGNAC/BENAINOUS/*BASSIGNA...
Spring 2006 Black grosgrain ribbon necklaces were another Alber signature, as seen here on Lisa Cant.
Photo: Pool BASSIGNAC/BENAINOUS/*BASSIGNAC-BENAINOUS/GAMMA
Fall 2006 Alber knew how to take his signatures and reinterpret them, season after season. Here, it's a mishmash of sheer paneling, jewel tones, ...
Fall 2006 Alber knew how to take his signatures and reinterpret them, season after season. Here, it's a mishmash of sheer paneling, jewel tones, and a whimsical take on the bow tie.
Photo: Xavier ROSSI/ROSSI XAVIER/GAMMA
Spring 2007 In contrast to the prior season's ladylike dressing, this season went in a futuristic direction — for example, this sequin photo...
Spring 2007 In contrast to the prior season's ladylike dressing, this season went in a futuristic direction — for example, this sequin photo-print dress. He would revisit this in spring 2013, in the form of a dress that featured a picture of a naked bust.
Photo: PIERRE VERDY/2006 AFP
Spring 2007 No one could create drapey, fluid dresses like Alber.
Photo: Karl Prouse/Catwalking/catwalking.com
Fall 2007 As a departure from last season's futurism, the models wore Polly Maggoo wigs and strong-silhouetted, almost '80s-inspired looks.
Pho...
Fall 2007 As a departure from last season's futurism, the models wore Polly Maggoo wigs and strong-silhouetted, almost '80s-inspired looks.
Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho
Spring 2008 If this collection were shown in the era of Instagram, there would have been a ton of slow-motion shots as these gowns billowed drama...
Spring 2008 If this collection were shown in the era of Instagram, there would have been a ton of slow-motion shots as these gowns billowed dramatically down the runway.
Photo: Catwalking.com/2007 Catwalking
Spring 2008 While Alber could create a beautifully draped gown, he wasn't afraid to make a fun, short party dress either, like this ruffly number...
Spring 2008 While Alber could create a beautifully draped gown, he wasn't afraid to make a fun, short party dress either, like this ruffly number.
Photo: Catwalking.com/2007 Catwalking
Fall 2008 Here's that '80s reference again, albeit darker and more dramatic. Also, you can thank Alber for instantly thinking asymmetrical should...
Fall 2008 Here's that '80s reference again, albeit darker and more dramatic. Also, you can thank Alber for instantly thinking asymmetrical shoulder when it comes to evening dressing.
Photo: Karl Prouse/Catwalking/2008 Catwalking
Spring 2009 While most of his collection was in neutrals and jewel tones, Alber wasn't afraid to use an animal print.
Photo: FRANCOIS GUILLOT/2...
Spring 2009 While most of his collection was in neutrals and jewel tones, Alber wasn't afraid to use an animal print.
Photo: FRANCOIS GUILLOT/2008 AFP
Fall 2009 Red coat? Check. Beautiful suiting? Check. Precursor to the peplum? Check.
Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/2009 Antonio de Mora...
Fall 2009 Red coat? Check. Beautiful suiting? Check. Precursor to the peplum? Check.
Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/2009 Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho
Spring 2010 Here's the one-shouldered ruffled dress that launched a ton of mass-market reinterpretations.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2010 In his debut collection, Alber used plenty of fur. Here it is again, trimming a strong-shouldered dress.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2011 Combine Karlie's walk with Alber's masterful draping and you have one memorable gown.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2011 Alber knew how to dress and flatter women's bodies, like this elegant one-shoulder gown.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2012 While his aesthetic celebrated all things feminine, Alber did dabble in menswear-inspired dressing like this sleek long vest.
Photo...
Spring 2012 While his aesthetic celebrated all things feminine, Alber did dabble in menswear-inspired dressing like this sleek long vest.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2012 This is how Lanvin interprets sexy: a revealing dress that shows off plenty of skin but is never vulgar.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2012 Lanvin's models often wear statement necklaces on the runway. Last season was the giant rhinestone eagle and this season there were sta...
Fall 2012 Lanvin's models often wear statement necklaces on the runway. Last season was the giant rhinestone eagle and this season there were statement pendants with words like Happy and Cool that were very popular with customers.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2012 Love it or hate it, Alber made the peplum popular again.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2013 During his time at Lanvin, the company expanded to shoes and accessories. The ballet slippers, Happy bag, and sneakers were among the...
Spring 2013 During his time at Lanvin, the company expanded to shoes and accessories. The ballet slippers, Happy bag, and sneakers were among the successes. But he wasn't afraid to go quirky either, as with this clutch modeled after an elegant perfume bottle.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2013 Though Lanvin was never quite the street-style star like other labels, there were moments, like when Anna Dello Russo decided to wear t...
Fall 2013 Though Lanvin was never quite the street-style star like other labels, there were moments, like when Anna Dello Russo decided to wear this look during Milan Fashion Week.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2014 For this collection, Alber featured iconic models on his runway, including Amber Valletta and Kirsten Owen but it was opener Vio...
Spring 2014 For this collection, Alber featured iconic models on his runway, including Amber Valletta and Kirsten Owen but it was opener Violetta Sanchez who stole the show. The Helmut Newton–discovered model served as muse to plenty of designers and exuded a womanly grace.
Photo: Imaxtree
Fall 2014 The big news of this season was that Rihanna showed up to this runway presentation, casually drinking in the front row, but the collect...
Fall 2014 The big news of this season was that Rihanna showed up to this runway presentation, casually drinking in the front row, but the collection was filled with beautiful, wearable pieces like this elegant top and skirt.
Photo: Imaxtree
Spring 2016 With his last collection, Alber leaves on a high note. There was plenty of sparkle, draping, and menswear, including this look, which...
Spring 2016 With his last collection, Alber leaves on a high note. There was plenty of sparkle, draping, and menswear, including this look, which perfectly juxtaposes feminine ruffles with mannish trousers.
Photo: Imaxtree
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