Lanvin Alber Elbaz Emerald Jeweled Sunglasses, 2009

Name: Lanvin Alber Elbaz Emerald Jeweled Sunglasses, 2009
Brand: Lanvin Paris
Price: 1500 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

Jeanne Lanvin is long gone, but her elegant legacy remains. For a fashion house that entered the French Couture scene in 1909, it has had remarkable staying power. These bijouterie-inspired shades were designed under the creative direction of Israeli designer Alber Elbaz who, according to the New York Times, “…pioneered the return of major jewelry on the runways.” While oversized pendants or stacks of bangles tend to serve as the common vehicles for jeweled adornment, a chic pair of glasses should not be discounted. Featuring oversized black frames, these sunglasses are defined by a lavish collection of facet cut stones ranging from marquise-cut celadon green to round-cut chartreuse to brilliant emerald greens. The stones are set into heavy frames, emerging with brilliant color and texture as they catch the light around them. Thick arms connect half way down the eye frame before tapering towards the ears. The “Lanvin” signature is enameled in silver on the outside of the left arm. Elbaz, whose fashion prowess turned a somewhat predictable house into a series of delights during his 15 years at Lanvin, delivers elegance with these clever, yet sophisticated sunglasses. [QUOTE FROM: Menkes, Suzy. New York Times Magazine, suppl. Style: WOMAN'S FASHION FALL 2008; New York (Fall 2008): 188,190.] These jeweled frames from Lanvin are in excellent condition. Oversized black frames are embedded with facet-cut stones in a green monochromatic color scheme. Featured shapes include marquise-cut celadon green, round chartreuse, emerald-cut jade green and almost clear baguette-cut stones. Arms connect to eye frames centrally, tapering back towards the ear. Nose pads are molded into the frame. Signed “Lanvin” in silver enamel on the outside of the left arm. High-quality vintage pieces like this are yours to live in and love while increasing in value every year. It’s never too soon to start collecting them, as an investment in your wardrobe—and in yourself.

Designer:

Lanvin Paris

Brand:

Lanvin Paris

Period:

2000-2009

Condition:

Excellent.

Seller Location:

Boca Raton, FL

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU73016120412

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Lanvin Paris

The career of Jeanne Lanvin (1867–1946) and her eponymous brand began with a millinery apprenticeship in the late 19th century. Today, Lanvin Paris is a globally revered company and is among the oldest French fashion houses still in existence. It is renowned for its exquisite and sought-after vintage evening dresses, shoes, skirts and other garments and accessories and for having dressed such high-profile celebrities as Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman, Kim Kardashian and Sienna Miller.

In 1889, when her apprenticeship came to an end, the young French designer Jeanne Lanvin opened a custom hat shop on the rue Boissy d’Anglas in Paris. Four years later, she moved her business into a much more prominent space on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, one of the world’s most famous luxury fashion districts.

The new Maison Lanvin was big enough to display the pieces she would design for her daughter, Marguerite, who was born in 1897. The relationship between Lanvin and her daughter would be at the core of the brand, with a 1907 photograph of Jeanne and Marguerite in matching outfits inspiring the fashion house’s enduring logo.

In 1908, Lanvin launched a line of children’s clothing, one of the first such moves in high-end fashion. When mothers came in to buy the clothes, they often asked for similar designs for themselves.

Lanvin decided to introduce a women’s wear line with pieces that had a youthful femininity. This would grow to encompass everyday clothing, dresses, coats, lingerie and furs, as well as menswear, perfume and household items. Once she became a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture (Parisian Fashion Council) in 1909, her title officially switched from milliner to designer.

Along with her stylish designs, Lanvin identified the importance of brand identity through fabric colors, opening a dye factory in Nanterre, France. There the distinctive “Lanvin blue” was produced, so even if her designs were copied, the colors could never be exactly reproduced.

After Jeanne Lanvin's death, her daughter, Marguerite Marie-Blanche de Polignac, took over and a series of talented artistic directors would propel the brand through the trends of the 20th century, including Jules François Crahay, Dominique Morlotti, Alber Elbaz and, most recently, Bruno Sialelli. In 2018, Lanvin was acquired by the Fosun Fashion Group, which is now focused on celebrating Lanvin’s heritage while pushing it into a new chapter.

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