Lanvin for H&M: The Video Look Book is Here!

As promised, the Lanvin for H&M video look book landed today, and it's a doozy. The fashion gods are really smiling because the floppy bow-tied head of the house, Alber Elbaz, has knocked this collection out of the park -- more so than any other of retailer's past collaborations. The fact that Lanvin is doing this is a huge coup, as Elbaz has said before that he wasn't interested in doing a lower-priced line. Also, Lanvin is one of the hottest brands right now, and is consistently making strong showings each season during Fashion Week. That Elbaz has now decided to create a collection with a more accessible price-point is thrilling, to say the least, and the internet has been abuzz ever since the announcement was made.

The best part of this collaboration is how strongly Elbaz has maintained the Lanvin aesthetic -- he's refused to water-down his signature style, for which we give him a major tip of the hat. For the ladies, he's maintaining his flirtatious visual elan with strong emphasis on voluminous shapes, architectural peplums and frills, an amazing eye for color and pattern (demonstrated here with a palette ranging from seriously sophisticated blacks to buoyant and feminine pinks and reds), and lots of texture (that fur vest is perfectly on-trend for the winter, no?). Add to that the fun shoes and accessories and we can only imagine that our female friends must be on cloud nine right now.

The video look book itself is really spectacular as well. It's a David Lynch meets Wes Anderson sort of affair, with a focus on fabulous imagery and oodles of quirky charm. There's a fun Parisian vibe and a faux formality and idiosyncrasy that makes the video compelling to watch beyond the fact that it essentially serves as a four-minute commercial. As we boys are used to, the menswear definitely took a back seat to the womenswear, but there were still some glances of pulse-quickening items that we've already mentally purchased.

Vogue UK has thankfully posted the look book in its entirety, where we get to see all the items individually, and they're definitely holding our attention. We're especially excited about the clunky, thick-framed sunglasses, the patent-leather shoes in various colors and the beguiling blazer selection (including a debonair shawl-collar option). And, of course, what would a Lanvin collaboration be without a few oversized bow-ties, a self-referential wink courtesy of Elbaz himself. While collaborations are the newest fashion obsession, its hard to say the last time we were genuinely thrilled by a meeting of minds like we are by this marriage made in heaven.

Previously > Thom Browne Now Designs for Women