Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz parties with Dubai’s most stylish

April is shaping up to be the month of high fashion in Dubai. This time last year, we had Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld. On Wednesday night, we had another bastion of French chic — Lanvin and its high priest, the eternally jovial Alber Elbaz.

Elbaz made his debut trip to the UAE to showcase the latest collection from Lanvin to a super-exclusive group of local fashion lovers with a fashion show in the afternoon. It was followed up by a cocktail reception in the fairy-light-strung gardens of the One&Only Royal Mirage. Velvet ribbons in the label’s colours of poppy red and forget-me-not blue dotted vintage-style tables and chairs perched on by partygoers — many in the label’s colourful dresses.

In a brief speech, the bubbly designer gave a shout-out to those wearing Lanvin. “And those who are not — that’s OK, too,” he said, with a chuckle.

Despite being one of the year’s most exclusive style events, the affair was, like Lanvin, fun and spirited, which Elbaz highlighted. “I didn’t want a fashion party,” he said. “I wanted a fashion family” event.

Elbaz is credited with reviving the French legacy brand, considered the first fashion label ever launched when Jeanne Lanvin created it in 1889. He joined as creative director 2001.