Lanvin: I love You is a new book which celebrates the wonderfully imaginative characters that have dressed Lanvin's shop windows for over ten years, ever since Alber Elbaz was appointed as creative director in 2001. “I am always inspired by stories, by words,” writes the designer in the foreword. “When I do windows, I don't start with a red dress or a white coat, I begin with a dream and a sketch... the shop windows are a portrait of a collection, zooming into the Lanvin world.” Here, we take a look at some of our favourite Lanvin characters, in all their glittering, smeared lipstick glory, accompanied by Elbaz's brilliantly thoughtful handwritten narrative.
Rosalie Emmanuelle ClevelandPhotography courtesy of Lanvin / Rizzoli
1. Rosalie Emmanuelle Cleveland "Rosalie Emmanuelle Cleveland is a celebrated psychologist whose practice is at 132 Avenue Victor Hugo. She smokes 1 cigarette a day, usually around 4.30 in the afternoon. After which, she meticulously re-applies her lipstick and checks her hair. And she has a daughter, Aymmeline, now 34, who lives in Argentina. Also a smoker. Rosalie dissaproves and blames her daughter's change in attitude on Mano Dominguez, the notorious Argentinian politician and love of Aymmeline. Mano is currently being investigated for tax fraud. Rosalie looks at the portrait fo her daughter and lights another cigarette."
VeronicaPhotography courtesy of Lanvin / Rizzoli
2. Veronica "Veronica manages a company of 550 employees. She speaks 5 different languages, has multipe degrees and mixes with la crème. Veronica lives alone."
CrystalPhotography courtesy of Lanvin / Rizzoli
3. Crystal "Crystal is undercover for the CIA. She has 24 hours to investigate Angelica Van Elden, the Swiss bureaucrat, actress and ex-model. Tomorrow she will travel to the Gala Premier of 'Footsteps of Desire', and intercept a package from director and husband Vigor Van Elden."
Chantelle & MargauxPhotography courtesy of Lanvin / Rizzoli
4. Chantelle & Margaux "Chantelle & Margaux have been friends since primary school. In fact from the day Olga, Margaux's au pair, confused the two girls, and collected Chantelle from the school gates, they have been inseperable. They go to the same shops, same hairdresser, even the same therapist."
Chantelle & Margaux, textPhotography courtesy of Lanvin / Rizzoli
