Lanvin’s Fall/Winter 2012 runway show was a celebratory affair, marking the tenth anniversary of creative director Alber Elbaz’s stellar tenure at the helm of the French brand, with a season that read more as a ‘best of’ the designer’s decade of iconic collections.
In true Elbaz fashion, the show opened with a parade of vibrant, structured dresses and monochromatic skirt suits finished with flared ruffles and body enhancing pleats. As the collection progressed, hemlines got shorter and fabrication techniques more elaborate. Black leather, rich velvet and fur outerwear were aplenty, as were rich brocades and heavily embellished cocktail dresses. If broken into three parts, the final chapter of the collection was a cornucopia of Elbaz’s greatest hits in eveningwear, with a return to the vibrant pallet that opened the show, as well as dreamy florals, lush textures, fur detailing and plenty of decorative lace.
The beauty of Alber Elbaz’s vision for Lanvin is epitomized not only through his trademark designs, but token techniques in styling, applying a ‘more-is-more’ mentality while always remaining on the right side of ‘ too extreme’. For Fall/Winter 2012, this philosophy was explored through the collection’s chunky bijoux – often baring reference to the surrealist jewelry designed by late Spanish painter Salvador Dali – bright leather gloves, vibrant stoles and chunky accessories. After decades of working in fashion, Alber finally found his creative voice at Lanvin, and it is these types of collections that prove so beautifully.
![Lanvin fw 2012 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2uv08VqM2fcjq5zPJjS4tS/fa1bcb865cbe86bcacef5007bb79cfa6/Lanvin_FW_2012_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Manik Bagh Palace
The Master Bedroom, Indore, India, 1931
![The master bedroom at manik bagh palace indore india 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7lgHwyLYfIf5XGBVmGYhpJ/665736c03576aa9904ec06390b3ad4a6/The_Master_Bedroom_at_Manik_Bagh_Palace__Indore__India__1931.jpg)
Salvador Dali
Surrealist Jewelry, 1940s
![Salvador dali surrealist jewelry 1940s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/kt6OY7Gsh36Qx0OnxJqAy/e2962b54b00d78b36aa7a40cde972506/Salvador_Dali__Surrealist_Jewelry__1940s.jpeg)
Salvador Dali
The Mae West Lips Sofa, 1937
![Salvador dali the mae west lips sofa 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1JidRRxGQyoQblwVJgGAaD/88965415e24f403a157e07785666005c/Salvador_Dali__The_Mae_West_Lips_Sofa__1937.jpg)
Man Ray
Lace Dress, 1930
![Man ray lace dress 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1zw6QrUuLm6jxpuALK5fQ9/3be07b46a11e5912780b0f107224bc79/Man_Ray__Lace_Dress__1930.jpg)
Yves Saint Laurent
Flamenco Dress in Vogue Magazine, 1968
![Yves saint laurent flamenco dress in vogue magazine 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/UrpyGNStvPw51HxCT79mX/25034871cc7059572fb957d320cbe20d/Yves_Saint_Laurent__Flamenco_Dress_in_Vogue_Magazine__1968.jpg)
Anselm Kiefer
Morgenthau Plan,1995
![Anselm kiefer morgenthau plan 1995](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tM4YGqp2idxlo8UqDWxnB/d1de88311fc82e5830d2642a34cd8d09/Anselm_Kiefer__Morgenthau_Plan_1995.jpg)
Manik Bagh Palace
The Art Deco Library, Indore, India, 1931
![The art deco library at manik bagh palace indore india 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1DjK3QQBhysEJFOe4O2D6S/3895341648cadf7c6eb598d722f22407/The_Art_Deco_Library_at_Manik_Bagh_Palace__Indore__India__1931.jpg)
Adolf Loos
Steiner House, 1910, Vienna, Austria
![Adolf loos steiner house 1910 vienna austria](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6yijwN0upPB4fkbXVvZS08/b57d1bad9be576d25a6f1ca3a438bfdb/Adolf_Loos__Steiner_House__1910__Vienna__Austria.jpg)
Alex Katz
Roses, 2001
![Alex katz roses 2001](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7oqgBvMqGF85LZabYPUVC0/10a95f67756d0abc0d67bcc2b2ed061c/Alex_Katz__Roses__2001.jpg)
Christian Dior
Fall/Winter 1997 Couture
![Christian dior fall winter 1997 couture](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5nL05BQaDrQFwhEvCljWDN/95075386b8791abae196bdec71146ba0/Christian_Dior__Fall_Winter_1997_Couture.jpg)
Damien Hirst
The Golden Jubilee (Green), 2008
![Damien hirst the golden jubilee green 2008](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3YrRaWvdGz1Sy3RZeyWjZ6/b6624f6ed18a49665478f90bc76b8194/Damien_Hirst__The_Golden_Jubilee__Green___2008.jpg)
Dolce & Gabbana
Fall/Winter 1991
![Dolce gabbana fall winter 1991](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/kNfJi1FyqNoT05xgapPgC/23daf4e63e323484c383c131248ed04b/Dolce___Gabbana_Fall_Winter_1991.jpg)
George Ohr
Vases, Late 1800s
![George ohr vases late 1800s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1oHZkZ1mIxNJmNA6uThaxu/001b334821cb17221dbbef45f057d9e1/George_Ohr__Vases__Late_1800s.jpg)
Gloria Swanson
In a Monkey Fur Coat,1922
![Gloria swanson in a monkey fur coat 1922](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/303RpWBIphCbKQ6m3TxoxM/1819d04b76d42c1768243cc537b31137/Gloria_Swanson__In_a_Monkey_Fur_Coat_1922.jpg)
Man Ray
Study of Hands, 1930
![Man ray study of hands 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/uxHSw9LLoE6hK32XDREKS/b90c085a2d8d114bfdbd1349c2e4f12a/Man_Ray__Study_of_Hands__1930.jpg)
Man Ray
Untitled, 1930
![Man ray untitled 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2EIE8Xt0ggRYDP1r0Fczo0/171685b6d77137ae4bd009d6ffe828f8/Man_Ray__Untitled__1930.jpg)
Prada
Fall/Winter 2009
![Prada fall winter 2009](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5POHYtzEJLx9LUsA0GlhXT/e5f4ec2561bab95c23bea37aa159a059/Prada__Fall_Winter_2009.jpg)
Rudolf Stingel
Untitled, 2009
![Rudolf stingel untitled 2009](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7uE067L25HwU8IbL3Hswuo/cb909d58dff4c8751f7c14bc63cdd66d/Rudolf_Stingel__Untitled__2009.jpg)
Salvador Dali
Lips Brooch, 1949
![Salvador dali lips brooch 1949](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3uZ9s8qHOfbR8VTNHcTAy8/0c874206e00846ee380f6fdafebf122f/Salvador_Dali__Lips_Brooch__1949.jpg)
Wolfgang Grünberg
Still Life with Roses, 1900s
![Wolfgang gru nberg still life with roses 1900s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3GBjwxFqy0P4uLAwXptNHY/097cc75254004cfc75a838ad66136855/Wolfgang_Gru__nberg__Still_Life_with_Roses__1900s.jpg)
References
![The master bedroom at manik bagh palace indore india 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7lgHwyLYfIf5XGBVmGYhpJ/665736c03576aa9904ec06390b3ad4a6/The_Master_Bedroom_at_Manik_Bagh_Palace__Indore__India__1931.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Manik Bagh Palace
The Master Bedroom, Indore, India, 1931
1 of 20
![Salvador dali surrealist jewelry 1940s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/kt6OY7Gsh36Qx0OnxJqAy/e2962b54b00d78b36aa7a40cde972506/Salvador_Dali__Surrealist_Jewelry__1940s.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Salvador Dali
Surrealist Jewelry, 1940s
2 of 20
![Salvador dali the mae west lips sofa 1937](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1JidRRxGQyoQblwVJgGAaD/88965415e24f403a157e07785666005c/Salvador_Dali__The_Mae_West_Lips_Sofa__1937.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Salvador Dali
The Mae West Lips Sofa, 1937
3 of 20
![Man ray lace dress 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1zw6QrUuLm6jxpuALK5fQ9/3be07b46a11e5912780b0f107224bc79/Man_Ray__Lace_Dress__1930.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Man Ray
Lace Dress, 1930
4 of 20
![Yves saint laurent flamenco dress in vogue magazine 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/UrpyGNStvPw51HxCT79mX/25034871cc7059572fb957d320cbe20d/Yves_Saint_Laurent__Flamenco_Dress_in_Vogue_Magazine__1968.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Yves Saint Laurent
Flamenco Dress in Vogue Magazine, 1968
5 of 20
![Anselm kiefer morgenthau plan 1995](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2tM4YGqp2idxlo8UqDWxnB/d1de88311fc82e5830d2642a34cd8d09/Anselm_Kiefer__Morgenthau_Plan_1995.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Anselm Kiefer
Morgenthau Plan,1995
6 of 20
![The art deco library at manik bagh palace indore india 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1DjK3QQBhysEJFOe4O2D6S/3895341648cadf7c6eb598d722f22407/The_Art_Deco_Library_at_Manik_Bagh_Palace__Indore__India__1931.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Manik Bagh Palace
The Art Deco Library, Indore, India, 1931
7 of 20
![Adolf loos steiner house 1910 vienna austria](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6yijwN0upPB4fkbXVvZS08/b57d1bad9be576d25a6f1ca3a438bfdb/Adolf_Loos__Steiner_House__1910__Vienna__Austria.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Adolf Loos
Steiner House, 1910, Vienna, Austria
8 of 20
![Alex katz roses 2001](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7oqgBvMqGF85LZabYPUVC0/10a95f67756d0abc0d67bcc2b2ed061c/Alex_Katz__Roses__2001.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Alex Katz
Roses, 2001
9 of 20
![Christian dior fall winter 1997 couture](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5nL05BQaDrQFwhEvCljWDN/95075386b8791abae196bdec71146ba0/Christian_Dior__Fall_Winter_1997_Couture.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Christian Dior
Fall/Winter 1997 Couture
10 of 20
![Damien hirst the golden jubilee green 2008](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3YrRaWvdGz1Sy3RZeyWjZ6/b6624f6ed18a49665478f90bc76b8194/Damien_Hirst__The_Golden_Jubilee__Green___2008.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Damien Hirst
The Golden Jubilee (Green), 2008
11 of 20
![Dolce gabbana fall winter 1991](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/kNfJi1FyqNoT05xgapPgC/23daf4e63e323484c383c131248ed04b/Dolce___Gabbana_Fall_Winter_1991.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Dolce & Gabbana
Fall/Winter 1991
12 of 20
![George ohr vases late 1800s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1oHZkZ1mIxNJmNA6uThaxu/001b334821cb17221dbbef45f057d9e1/George_Ohr__Vases__Late_1800s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
George Ohr
Vases, Late 1800s
13 of 20
![Gloria swanson in a monkey fur coat 1922](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/303RpWBIphCbKQ6m3TxoxM/1819d04b76d42c1768243cc537b31137/Gloria_Swanson__In_a_Monkey_Fur_Coat_1922.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gloria Swanson
In a Monkey Fur Coat,1922
14 of 20
![Man ray study of hands 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/uxHSw9LLoE6hK32XDREKS/b90c085a2d8d114bfdbd1349c2e4f12a/Man_Ray__Study_of_Hands__1930.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Man Ray
Study of Hands, 1930
15 of 20
![Man ray untitled 1930](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2EIE8Xt0ggRYDP1r0Fczo0/171685b6d77137ae4bd009d6ffe828f8/Man_Ray__Untitled__1930.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Man Ray
Untitled, 1930
16 of 20
![Prada fall winter 2009](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5POHYtzEJLx9LUsA0GlhXT/e5f4ec2561bab95c23bea37aa159a059/Prada__Fall_Winter_2009.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Prada
Fall/Winter 2009
17 of 20
![Rudolf stingel untitled 2009](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7uE067L25HwU8IbL3Hswuo/cb909d58dff4c8751f7c14bc63cdd66d/Rudolf_Stingel__Untitled__2009.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Rudolf Stingel
Untitled, 2009
18 of 20
![Salvador dali lips brooch 1949](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3uZ9s8qHOfbR8VTNHcTAy8/0c874206e00846ee380f6fdafebf122f/Salvador_Dali__Lips_Brooch__1949.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Salvador Dali
Lips Brooch, 1949
19 of 20
![Wolfgang gru nberg still life with roses 1900s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3GBjwxFqy0P4uLAwXptNHY/097cc75254004cfc75a838ad66136855/Wolfgang_Gru__nberg__Still_Life_with_Roses__1900s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)