Lanvin

Before Lanvin creative director Alber Elbaz had even toyed with the idea of collaborating with a cosmetics brand, his fate was sealed. "I knew that eventually Alber would work with a cosmetics company, and so I told him, 'If you do something with someone else, I will kill you,'" Lancome president Youcef S. Nabi, who is a close friend of Elbaz, told W magazine with a laugh. "I really wasn't kidding."

And because of Nabi's persistence, the beauty world will welcome Elbaz's ultra-luxe quad of mascaras on June 15. "Eyes are so important to me," Elbaz said. "When I think of cosmetics, I think of eyes. For Lancome, I wanted to do something funny and a little handmade." Building from these ideas, Elbaz created whimsical cartoon packaging for four of Lancome's mascaras: hearts for Hypnose Doll Lashes, blue stars for Hypnose Star, pink polka dots for Hypnose Drama, and big doe eyes for the classic Définicils. "I'm hoping women will collect all four," Nabi said.

Beyond the line of mascaras, Elbaz is slated to conjure up a set of eye shadow boxes but has no far-reaching plans with Lancome. "We'll do this project and see how it works," Elbaz said. The designer is hesitant about expanding and diluting his brand, which explains why he has never designed a secondary, less expensive line. Partnerships are also a rare affair; he never collaborates unless it makes creative sense.

His collaboration with Lancome, however, will no doubt further prove his love affair with women. "I adore women," said Elbaz, who also appreciates that being a woman today isn't always easy. "Women try to be the best everywhere, and it's impossible. I want my clothes to give women the freedom to just be — I want them to put on my dresses and shine." C'est parfait, non?

We're suckers for ultrafeminine takes on menswear, and these latest tuxedo looks couldn't have come at a better time than wedding season. Here's why. For those who prefer not to wear a dress — and the dress code calls for something formal — actresses Rebecca Hall's and Carey Mulligan's borrowed-from-the-boys ensembles have got you covered. If you're into Rebecca's plunging Lanvin jumpsuit, which she wore for the Iron Man 3 London premiere, you can take the romper route — here's an affordable option from the Kate Young for Target collection ($80) — then jazz it up a with box clutch and ankle-strap sandals. Or you can follow suit on Carey's Victoria Beckham tuxedo cape look by sporting a tuxedo vest or blazer (with nothing underneath!), then matching it up with cropped tuxedo pants and T-strap pumps. Of course, don't forget to add sparkly baubles and a red lip to give your menswear-inspired ensemble a sexy, albeit polished, finish. Now all you have to do to get started is shop our chicest tuxedo pieces below.

• Italy's Tax Commission has ordered Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana to pay a €343.4 million fine (about $440 million at current exchange) for allegedly evading corporate taxes. [The Cut]
• Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès's artistic director, will receive France's Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. [WWD]
• Michelle Obama wore a dress from Prabal Gurung's Spring 2010 line to attend Easter Sunday mass. [Fashionista]


More fashion news you need to know, right here.

• The CFDA and Ebay have tapped over 90 designers, including J. Mendel (left) and Prabal Gurung, to design tote bags for its third "You Can't Fake Fashion" initiative. Look for the totes exclusively online on March 18. [Harper's Bazaar]
• Diane von Furstenberg and Andrew Rosen are teaming up to host Open Market, an evening of food, cocktails, and fashion to benefit the Meatpacking District Improvement Association. [Style.com]
• The Great Gatsby is set to open the Cannes Film Festival, which kicks off on May 15. [The New York Times]
• Simon Doonan attributes his signature sense of humor to his upbringing: "It's a big part of being English — not taking things too seriously, debunking things." [The Business of Fashion]
• Elle Macpherson has gotten engaged to longtime boyfriend Jeffrey Soffer. [Page Six]
• GQ Deputy Editor Michael Hainey has an affinity for artful prose: "I've always wanted to be a poet. That's how I started writing," he said. "Poetry teaches you to sort of crystallize your thinking." [MR PORTER]
• Jenna Lyons has 289 pairs of shoes — or as she refers to them: shiny ponies. [POPSUGAR Style & Trends]
• Disneyland Paris will hold a fashion show to celebrate its 20th anniversary later this month, featuring designs from the likes of Alber Elbaz and Philip Treacy. [Vogue UK]
• Will we see another Tom Ford movie hit theaters soon? [Telegraph]