ELBAZ Alber (Designer)

Casablanca-born Alber Elbaz is undoubtedly a breath of fresh air in fashion. The designer grew up in Tel Aviv, where he studied fashion at Shankar College, before moving to New York to work with Geoffrey Beene, followed by stints with Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. In 2001 Elbaz was appointed artistic director at Lanvin, bringing with him his distinctive take on elegance: a simplicity of form putting visual emphasis on colour and luxurious, humorous details such as his trademark bow. Elbaz is a realist in the fashion world, saying, "I think that for me commercial is not a bad word". This philosophy carries through to his innovative campaigns and press material, working with illustrators and photographers _ here with Steven Meisel _ hinting wittily at Surrealism in the designer's characteristic high-fashion playfulness that has made Lanvin, once again, a highly coveted brand. 

Also look up for Beene, Lanvin, Laroche, Meisel, Pilati, Viktor & Rolf