Yesterday evening, at the onset of Haute Couture Week in Paris, Lanvin had the honor of unveiling an exceptional custom-made dress at the Vogue World: Paris fashion show in the iconic Place Vendôme. The evening dress that walked the runway was inspired by a garment designed by Jeanne Lanvin in 1924 originally named Vogue. The event showcased French style since 1920, pairing each decade with a different sport, just as Paris is getting ready for the summer games. Lanvin, known as the oldest house of couture still in activity, was amongst the brands chosen to represent the 1920s, celebrating a century of style and savoir-faire.
During the research process in advance of the show, it came to light that the remarkable Lanvin creation named Vogue appeared in an artistic performance. This one-of-a-kind black velvet swimsuit, adorned with silver embroidered stars, was featured in Trois Pages Dansées in 1924 during the Soirées de Paris at the legendary Théâtre de la Cigale. Organised by Comte Etienne de Beaumont in collaboration with Vogue Magazine, this choreographic and dramatic performance mixed painting, poetry, music and dance, featuring artworks by the avant-garde of the times: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Jean Cocteau, Erik Satie and Loïe Fuller. A century later, Lanvin joins the iconic magazine once again to revive the artistry of the original swimsuit design into an exquisite bespoke creation.
‘This swimsuit, kept at the Palais Galliera fashion museum, is in all the history books. I am moved to see an emblematic Jeanne Lanvin piece revived in a never-before-seen dress that echoes the fashion of the 1920s’, comments Alexandre Samson, Historian and Curator, Palais Galliera Paris and Fashion Curator and Associate Artistic Director, Vogue World: Paris.
The concept for the updated design was to extend the natural lines of the 1924 swimsuit. To add movement to the archival reference, the house’s atelier used a scarf bow construction inspired by different Lanvin dresses created that same year. Two assembled squares of black satin are positioned at the base of the hips, opening the embroidered panels and allowing freedom of movement. The embroidery of the dress, crafted by 20 artisans over 800 hours, features bright stars formed by 2,500 pierced sparkles and 4,000 silver crystals encircling miniature round mirrors, all set against a backdrop of metallic tubular beads. Since the early 1910s, Lanvin’s ateliers have masterfully blended minimalist design with rich embroidery, defining the brand’s unmistakable and renowned aesthetic.
Vogue World: Paris also marks the beginning of Lanvin Century, an initiative by the Maison to animate and commemorate its rich legacy. Each year, the initiative will explore a new centennial milestone by designing and unveiling an exclusive bespoke piece that brings to life Jeanne Lanvin’s vast archive. Inaugurated here with Vogue World, Lanvin Century will experiment with the brand’s heritage and savoir-faire, establishing a dynamic connection between history and modernity.
Following the Vogue World: Paris show, a made-to-measure reproduction of the bespoke dress and swimsuit will be available by special order in Lanvin boutiques worldwide.
Source: Lanvin PR
Photos: Grégorie Alexandre
