Lanvin steals the show on the last day of Paris Fashion week

Encapsulating every big trend we've seen in Paris this week - dramatic black, simplicity, the return of costume jewellery, the 1980s, power dressing and luxe embellishment, Elbaz sent a masterclass in wearable and versatile yet incredibly beautiful cocktail dresses, chic suiting and striking embellished evening wear down the catwalk. Think Alexis Colby in Dynasty meets Robert Palmer's backing singers in the 1986 video for 'Addicted to Love'.

Highlights included black dresses made entirely of grossgrain ribbons that fitted the female form like a glove, skinny black trouser suits with the seams on the outside, jewel encrusted bolero evening jackets and diamante heeled skinny stilletos. And of course the baubles - costume jewellery is firmly back on the fashion map - and the bigger the better, in particular earrings, which have made a welcome return to the catwalk.

A pregnant Jessica Alba sat front row (wearing a stunning slate grey lanvin dress with a tan belt tied above the bump) next to Lucy Liu admiring this, one of the final collections of Paris Fashion Week and the entire international collections. Trust Elbaz to save the best for last!

Click here to see the Lanvin show

Click here to see full coverage of Paris Fashion Week and the International Collections

By Laurelle Gilbert

Posted: 3 March 2008