classic with a twist

Sadly, I rarely have the patience to sit and read long magazine articles any more, but this one, Ladies' Man: Alber Elbaz and the refinement of Lanvin, in the latest issue of the New Yorker, is definitely worth getting your hands on. Luckily I saw the full page Tim Walker photo (above), which hooked me enough to read on.

I've always liked Alber Elbaz's work and his subtle take on women's fashions, especially when his look first emerged in a time that still favored slit down to there dresses. But now, with the economic times being what they are, a case is being made that this is his time, a time for women to "look smart" instead of hedonistically sexy. Alber has so many wonderful things to say about fashion that it makes me wish I had said them first; that right now people are looking to be "touched" by fashion. How lately he quotes Coco Chanel to the all editors: it's not about what's new, it's about what's good. That he's interested in "designing the dress a woman wears when she first falls in love with herself." I love his philosophy of being "classic with twist" and agree with almost everything except the fact that he's not interested in making clothes that will make a man fall in love with a woman.

Any of you hard core Vogue readers probably remember that infamous essay by a woman who married the same man twice and how the original passion was sparked by a Prada pencil skirt she was wearing--love at first sight. I guess I don't see the point in taking the romance out of clothing. And if I had to be completely honest, there's a pencil skirt in my new collection probably inspired by that story. What are your thoughts? What would make you splurge on a luxury piece?--do tell.