Lanvin AW13

Beer, bleachers, popcorn and prom dresses - was it an American high school prom? Of course not, it was Lanvin's AW13 show. The musical mash-up that sounded out over the speakers might well have been played at a prom, but the clothes were anything but puerile. The first group of girls came out in flat brogues and almost-pretty dresses that had thick skin-coloured illusion panels on the backs and shoulders. The streak of rebellious ugly-beautiful gave way to all-out exuberant girly gorgeousness though, with crystal encrusted platform shoes, flouncy dresses encrusted in floral appliqués and piled up costume jewellery with golden slogans shouting 'happy' and 'love'. There was a trembling atmosphere in the air, like the feeling you get when you're getting ready for a big night out with the girls, listening to loud music and emptying out your wardrobe. And the girls could feel it too - satins, silks, slim-fit, voluminous, printed or plain, high heels or low, they were gorgeous every last one, and when Elbaz came out at the end to deliver a bow to a riotous applause, he knew it.