Ah, Paris

That is the word that encapsulates Lanvin's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection shown recently at Paris Fashion Week. Alber Elbaz, Lanvin's creative director, celebrated 10 years at Lanvin with this collection which featured a number of his "greatest hits". Now you know Mr Elbaz makes dresses that absolutely elevate a woman's shape, so body conscious silhouettes were abound with additions of fur, lace accents and those great ruffles he does so well.

And the colour palette - amazing. Elbaz took us all the way from electric blue, through canary yellow, to black with some garments filled with jewels, and a touch of metallic fabrics. Again, the the chunky jewellery will prove to be a fan favourite, and quite simply, everything here is my favourite.

I'd kill to be the Lanvin woman any day.


It may only be his second season at Balmain, but French designer Olivier Rousteing's got me.

Jaw drop.

It's not Christophe Decarnin's Balmain, but the classic reference is still there. Those firm shoulders are there. The military-inspired jackets, embellishments, sleek cuts, and sexy silhouettes are all there, as we've come to expect from Balmain. But Olivier continues Balmain's evolution, taking it increasingly fashion forward in a direction all his own. And you know what - I love it (boxiness and all). Those velvet pants and super short dresses are incredible.

Labels: balmain, lanvin, pfw

posted by Zinhle Zee Mncube @ 2:38 PM