FIT’s Couture Council Honors Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz

Congratulating Alber Elbaz

Am I in Paris or New York?  After moving to New York in 1985 with only $800 to his name, Alber Elbaz began working as an assistant to designer Geoffrey Beene. Twenty-two years later, he is the chief designer for the House of Lanvin and is at the top of his game. This has been a watershed year for Elbaz. He created a couture diamond ring for Van Cleef & Arpels (see my post: Van Cleef & Arpels in New York: Une Journée à Paris), got pinned with France’s prestigious Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, joined the TIME 100 Club (with an accompanying profile by Natalie Portman), and is now prepping for his Fashion Group International Award in October. Long gone are the days of 1985…

Van Cleef & Arpels in New York: Une Journée à Paris

Is it a coincidence that the kick-off to New York Fashion Week commenced with a festive showcase of Van Cleef & Arpels’ jewelry Paris collection? For me? The ultimate Francophile who LOVES Paris more than anybody?? Yes, yes, it’s true – many people love Paris… it’s hard not to! My love affair with Paris, however, is something deeper than love. It is something in my DNA – some permanent imprint or memory or perhaps – a past life experience there? I now call my home New York City, but last night, to my delight, I felt like I was in Paris.