Lanvin's runway show...

Challenging the rain, Paris' chaotic traffic on a Friday afternoon (terrible!) and all possible inconveniences, I went to the XIII arrondissement, more precisely to Halle Freyssenet, to see Alber Elbaz's Spring-Summer 2011 collection for Lanvin.

As I have told you before, Paris' Fashion Week is an event in itself. To begin with, stars blend in all through the city, so you can end up having lunch at the Ritz in a table next to that of Leo di Caprio, as it happened to me this Wednesday, or go to Roberto Cavalli's 40th Anniversary party (in fashion, not in life...), or French Vogue's 90-Years Celebration, surrounded in both by a "parterre" of actresses and incredible models.

So, on the runway show, I was seated among the greatest fashion editors in the world (Carla Sozzani, Anna Wintour, Anna Dello Russo, Carine Roitfeld... always the same!!) and next to a very-handsome Lenny Kravitz. Just in front of me I had Janet Jackson, with a young boyfriend (a cougar?) and three huge bodyguards protecting her from the view of others... of course, they left when the show started, for if not, she would have seen nothing, right?

This time we had a delay of an hour and 15 minutes, but it was worth it. The show started a little "sottotono" to me... lots of nude and beige, hair pulled backwards, almost no make-up and, to make it worst, flat gladiator sandals!!

Then things shifted a bit and so did the heels, together with powerful colors in draped dresses. The finale was amazing, with fantastic modern embroidered pieces and long dresses, very Seventies, with huge interesting front cuts.

A special remark for the jewelry: big ribbons mounted on beige leather necklaces or belts... bellissimos!

At the end, all 50 models appeared together to Burt Bacharach's song "Always Something There to Remind Me," remixed by Ariel Wiessmann, followed by the adorable Alber Elbaz, always timidly saluting the audience that, as usual, gave him an ovation.

Always a true pleasure...