alber elbaz

>> Editors — including Katie Grand — were regularly spotted exiting the Lanvin for H&M preshopping event on Thursday with three or four bags, and Meredith Melling Burke wore the collection's red tulle dress to Vogue writer Stephanie LaCava's black tie wedding over the weekend, so it's no surprise that when made available to the masses on Saturday, consumers reacted similarly, often spending, as The Cut points out, as much as they might on a piece from the Lanvin runway collection.

WWD tracked shoppers in New York and LA shelling out $1,700 or $1,800 in one fell swoop — the former shopper noting it was "the most I've ever spent in my life" — and one man who spent $3,000 buying up basically everything in the women's collection for his wife, who "is pregnant and can't be here, so I am doing a run."

Alber Elbaz, originally said he planned to head home from New York on Saturday — "You could have a baby in the time it took us to work on this. I'm going to be in bed, watching TV, and ordering Chinese food." But it seems he had a change of heart. He arrived a bit before 8 a.m. in a black Town Car across from the Manhattan H&M flagship to marvel at the line. "We stayed in New York one more night so we could see this," Elbaz told WWD. "I don’t dare go in. I can't believe it. I was sure there would be no one. I was a bit panicked. This is a once in a lifetime experience." But he must have gotten the courage to exit the vehicle, because he was snapped outside taking it all in.

Last night we attended Lanvin for H&M's haute couture show in NYC — more exciting details to come on that later! And yes, you heard correctly, the house has created one-of-a-kind couture versions of the less expensive H&M pieces. And it's all for a good cause; bid on one of the high-end looks, including this one supported by yours truly, and proceeds will go to UNICEF, as part of H&M's "All For Children" project. Peruse all 25 pieces, supported by various bloggers, and splurge for style . . . and a cause.

• Marc Jacobs dressed in drag for the cover of Industrie — Racked
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• Angelina Jolie throughout the years in Vogue — Vogue Daily

>> The International Herald Tribune is hosting its 10th annual luxury conference in London, where Suzy Menkes grilled Karl Lagerfeld earlier today on his thoughts of himself, his fellow designers, and his legacy. A few highlights, below.

On who the real Karl Lagerfeld is: "I am a cocktail."

On the current Hermes situation: "If you don't want to be taken over, don't put your business in the public market. Stay private like Chanel."

On designing: "I love my job. I have no idea of what it means to take yourself seriously. You have to be detached."

On the pecking order at Chanel: "Nobody tells me what to do at Chanel . . . I am there to be used. I like to be used, but only in the way I think I should be used."

On his legacy: "I was the blueprint for Tom Ford at Gucci, Alber Elbaz at Lanvin . . ."

On ego: "People think I'm on an ego trip, but I'm not. I can get out of people what they want to express but can't."

On how he embraces the digital world: "If you are against 'digital' in the world of today, you are lost . . . I don't use computers so much — they do what your brain is meant to do. But they are beautiful."

On taking from the past to translate for the future: "if you want to revive something you can't do it with respect. That's the kiss of death . . . you can only build if you destroy . . . I have no archives, I keep nothing. Other people can do that for me. I like now."

On his longevity: "I never think of what's going on after me. I never think of what's next. I only think of the moment."

On the recent onslaught of Chanel films: "I don't like the movies about Coco Chanel."

When we heard that designer Prabal Gurung was going to make an appearance at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco, we didn't hesitate to run over there, even in our high heels! As expected, he was a delight — we sat on fancy chairs and chatted about everything from his beginnings to his dream collaborations to favorite holiday styling tips. But first, we must share Prabal's favorite fashion moment thus far: meeting Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz.

To hear what Prabal said about their first meeting, read more

• Peter Lindbergh back in fashion — W Editor's Blog
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• Seeing sequins: 20 sequined finds for under $20 — The Budget Fashionista
• Boulevard spectator, sunset — Hilltop Glossy
• Video: Alber Elbaz discusses Lanvin H&M collection and the kind of women he loves — The Cut
• Vogue gives us a closer look at a piece of multicolor heaven from Fendi Spring '11 — Purse Blog