Lanvin
-Lanvin
Jeanne Lanvin began her career as a designer by sewing clothes for her young daughter around the turn of the 20th century. Other mothers asked her to make clothing for their children, and they eventually began commissioning clothes for themselves as well. In 1909 she was officially recognized as a designer by a French fashion consul. Jeanne's biggest contribution to fashion during her lifetime was the fragrance Arpege. Another fragrance, My Sin, is now recognized as one of the most influential perfumes of all time.
The Lanvin house experienced a bit of a downturn in the 1990s when L'Oreal bought half of the company. This diluted the couture appeal of the brand. Lanvin regained some of its cache when its flapper-style wedding gown appeared in a montage in the 2008 Sex and the City movie. The house fully recovered in 2009 when Michelle Obama wore a pair of Lanvin sneakers during a charity event.
The Style
Lanvin specializes in classic silhouettes and balanced contrasts. The men's collections adhere to contemporary trends demanding straight lines and nautical details. The clothing for women is more luxurious. It epitomizes Parisian glamor. White gossamer gowns are decorated with pleats, flowers and bows. Blouson dresses are expertly engineered to drape gracefully over cinched waists. Lanvin's leather ballet flats in bright colors and romantic patterns are worn by chic city girls who want to evoke the timeless charms of Audrey Hepburn. There are hints of childish whimsy in Lanvin's collections for women, but the clothes are still undeniably adult.
Lanvin is the oldest design house that is still producing contemporary clothing. Despite its brief low period 20 years ago, it remains a significant arbiter of fashion. Lanvin remains light even when its peers occasionally skew dark. Lanvin's designs carry the aspirational weight of 100 years of French fashion.