Lanvin combines with H&M to sell affordable designer party clothes

 

One of the party dresses for the new designer collection that H&M is marketing this Christmas: Lanvin Hearts h&M. The office Christmas party could be considerably more chic this year thanks to a collaboration between Alber Elbaz, a top designer at Lanvin, and the high street giant H&M. The one-off capsule collection, which was unveiled , will go on sale on 23 November and is timed to take maximum advantage of the festive party season. The collection, entitled Lanvin Hearts H&M, includes party clothes and accessories for women and men and, unmistakably, carries the Elbaz design signature. The designer, who was born in Morocco but raised in Israel, shows his high-end Lanvin collection in Paris and is famed for his luxurious cocktail dresses which flatter rather than frighten women, albeit those who can afford the £1,000 price tags. This high street collection represents the first time that his designs will be available to the masses – most designs will retail at around £100. Elbaz told Womens Wear Daily this week that this egalitarian approach would not cheapen his work at Lanvin. "Ninety-five per cent of women cannot afford [Lanvin] so let them have a taste. It's like if I was living in a palace and opened some doors and said, 'Have tea with me, taste the food'." Highlights from the collection include a one-shouldered ruffle cocktail dress in midnight blue silk, a faux-fur bomber jacket and a pair of leopard court shoes with diamante-encrusted heels and raw-edged, ribbon-tied ankle straps. It is aimed at women of all ages, although not those who favour trousers. For men, the bestseller is expected to be a modern take on the tuxedo, priced at £79.99, and metallic, lace-up party shoes. Oversized bow ties, which are are an Elbaz trademark, are likely to become the cult party accessory of the 2010 festive season. Recent designer and high street collaborations have proved so successful that they are becoming a testing ground for designers looking to launch a more reasonably priced line. Elbaz insists that this is not the case with Lanvin Hearts H&M. When the collection goes on sale in three weeks' time, it will not be repeated or restocked. A spokesman for the brand said at the preview: "We expect it to sell out that day." H&M will limit shoppers to two versions of the same dress in an attempt to prevent the growing practice of eBay flipping, but the spokesman admitted that it was impossible to control. "Obviously we want people to buy the clothes for themselves, but we can't stop it: it's part of the fun."