First Dibs: Lanvin Spring 2014 Look 48

In the skilled hands of Alber Elbaz, lamé—the fabric of your ’80s prom nightmare—transforms into something subtle, elegant, and yes, covetable. Case in point: this black strapless, pleated dress. With a less skilled, and moreover, less woman-loving designer, this dress could cry out for gold hoops and frosty pink lips. Instead, it suggests sophistication with personality. The subdued silhouette with a nipped waist puts the focus on the lustrous fabric, a starting point for the entire collection.”I didn’t want to do a collection based on the forest or Marilyn Monroe,” Elbaz explained at his show in September. He was instead inspired by “going to the factories, to the basements and warehouses where fabrics are kept.” As always, Elbaz infused his collection with both whimsy and luxe. We’ll take this dress for all of our holiday parties, please.

THIS FIRST DIBS ITEM WAS SELECTED BY INTERVIEW ASSISTANT MARKET EDITOR STEPHANIE STRAUSS.

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