Lanvin SS14: Shimmy Shimmer Shake

Alber Elbaz doesn't do the same thing as everyone else, ever. So whilst everyone else has gone for dragée shades, he went for Quality Street. Glimmering lamé in shades of Christmas bauble purple, brilliant green and toffee yellow, these were exuberant party pieces for a summer of love that will keep its wardrobe through the winter months too, thank you very much. The sheeny shiny cocktail frocks were cleverly juxtaposed against sections of entirely black looks. Ultra-fitted femme fatale dresses with va-va-voom necklines and tuxedo suits lent a sexy sobriety to the collection. And the shoes had the same contextualising effect. Big bouncy party dresses always look best with slutty strappy sandals, of course, but the girls who wore theirs with brogues looked much more interesting. As pretty as Alber Elbaz likes his girl to be, she's never without her quirky side.