Images
The nature of fashion is family.
Alber Elbaz
When I'm traveling the world, I don't ever look anymore at the geography - just enough to catch galleries and paintings.
If you change a woman's look, you change her persona.
I like having the freedom to dress as I desire.
I don't go out to parties because I'd look terrible in pictures. My escape is television - it's like meditation to me.
I'm always looking for a story.
It's a major job to help men and women look beautiful.
When I was either 7 or 8 years old, I did a sketch every day of my teacher and what she wore. At the end of the year, I gave her the sketchbook. For me, the sketching of dresses was about fantasy and dreams.
At Yves Saint Laurent, I felt like the son-in-law - like I was part of the family, but not quite. When I was fired, I felt like the widow.
I love to see old women. I love wrinkles. I love gray hair.
My dream is to be a doctor. I'm almost working in a laboratory, because I'm trying new techniques, new directions and fabrics, new weaving.
Stay big in your work and small in your life.
I've always said fashion is like roast chicken: You don't have to think about it to know it's delicious.
I always think, if I were an editor, and I was invited to a show, and I would have to wait for 45 minutes in the dark or in the cold or in the heat, maybe I would like to have a fresh drink or a piece of chocolate.
I live many lives at once.
I certainly can't complain. I work six days a week, if not seven, and eighteen hours out of twenty-four - fortunately, with a great deal of pleasure. Why? Because I only do something if I want to do it; I need to feel a desire, to find pleasure in moving forward, creating, moving, inventing.
Run away from laziness; work hard. Touch intuition and listen to the heart, not marketing directors. Dream.
If I am in a beautiful place, but I don't like the people, I am miserable.
I am always trying to put myself inside: Every dress I do, I think, 'If I were a woman, would I wear it?'
Why not touch things that we hate and turn them upside down and inside out?
A singer can quit once he or she has made ten great songs; a director can finish once he or she has made five amazing films; a writer just needs to write three great books.
Nothing is ever enough for me. I'm always thinking what is wrong, what needs to be fixed.
In high fashion, we're always accused of doing things that are not very relevant, not the real world. I know that it's important sometimes to do fantasy, but I felt like touching people and going back to different women and men, especially the idea of different ages and body shapes.
For me, Lancome was more than just a brand. There was something very nostalgic about the name, about the whole story.
I hate the word 'cool.' It gives me a rash.
Many, many times I find that whatever is looking good on the screen doesn't always look or feel good on the body. So who do we design for - do we design for the screen, or do we design for women?
My job is to do. My job is to make women beautiful. What do I have to say?
My father, who was a hair colourist, died when I was young, so my mother had to work very hard. But at the same time, I do believe that if you have everything, it is easy to make a dinner. When you only have flour and water and olives and potatoes, you have to be much more creative, and that's what my mother is all about.
All I want is beautiful. I mean, I like grey hair, I love wrinkles. But this is me.
There is always a reason why, and I need to tell the stories.
I thought, "It doesn't matter what that woman is wearing", but then I realised actually it's our job as designers to make women smile; to bring them the chocolate without the calories.
The designers, photographers and models I work with, they are really hard-working people who are devoting their lives to fashion. They're kind of like nuns of fashion.
I do sport at the gym a few times a week, but I hate it. Work is my only remedy. I feel so twisted and horrible in the morning, but then I go to the office and I start feeling better. Work is my Tylenol. Extra-strength.
I barely finish one pre-collection before I must start on another. Sales start, but I am already elsewhere creatively. The men's show is being prepared, but we also need to think about accessories, perfumes and other items. In sum, I never stop.
We are being accused that some models are anorexic. But we as fashion designers cannot be blamed, because you know, when I talk to women around the world, rich and poor and young and old and intellectual and not, what they want to be is skinny. You ask them, 'What is your dream?' It's to be skinny. That's all they want.
Almost every collection I do has 200 different references. I don't have two of the same coat, two of the same dress. I have it in one color, in one fabric. I've tried to adapt the culture of couture, and the know-how and the heritage, but I try to update it.
Our logo for Lanvin is a mother and a daughter. I've always said, 'It's not a lion, and it's not a horse. It's a mother and a daughter.' I find the logo very emotional.
I hate bridges. I'm always very insecure on bridges.
I always say that women are very strong and men are powerful. But beauty gives you both strength and power. I never think of it. It's just one of those natural things. It's the only thing I know how to do.
I was a fat child; I was asthmatic. No wonder I'm a hypochondriac.
I never think people should do things for me. I think I should do things for others. That makes me more comfortable.
I love women. I get along with women more than men, and I have more women friends.
I spend my time backstage at the Lanvin shows, and when I come out at the end, all I see are people's eyes.
Mine is a job that never ends, a function where it is almost impossible to set aside time to rest or take a breather.
I always wear a dinner jacket. I never have this definition of what goes for the morning or the evening or what works for the weekend.
One woman told me that every time she wears Lanvin, men fall in love with her. Another told me she wore Lanvin to face her husband's lawyer because she felt protected. If I can make men fall in love with women and if I can protect women, I think I can die peacefully.
To be a fashion critic is easy because you just say, 'I love it, I hate it', but life is more than love and hate.
Fashion doesn't look good only on models; it can look good on different people of different ages and different body shapes.
I used to hate L.A., but I met such a great group of people there that I fell in love with it.
Women try to be the best everywhere, and it's impossible. I want my clothes to give women the freedom to just be - I want them to put on my dresses and shine.
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