What Lanvin is known for
The oldest French fashion house still in operation — founded 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin. Alber Elbaz's legacy of romantic elegance, now written forward by artistic director Peter Copping.
Jeanne Lanvin built the oldest French fashion house still in operation from a millinery shop opened in 1889 — and from love: the clothes she made for her daughter Marguerite drew such envy that mothers demanded copies, and the house's emblem remains Paul Iribe's drawing of Jeanne and Marguerite dressed for a ball. Her robes de style, her Lanvin blue lifted from Fra Angelico frescoes, and Arpège — the 1927 fragrance named for a scale Marguerite played — made her the era's quiet empress.
The modern chapters have been turbulent and occasionally glorious. Alber Elbaz's 2001-2015 reign was the glorious one: draped jersey, industrial zippers on ballgowns, romance with a wink — collections that made grown editors cry. The successions after him struggled to hold the room.
Peter Copping, formerly of Oscar de la Renta and Balenciaga couture, took the atelier in 2024 with exactly the right credentials for the house's DNA: femininity, craft, discretion. The faubourg Saint-Honoré flagship keeps the mother-and-daughter logo above the door — 137 years of it.
How ORBIS reads this city
Best for — The oldest French fashion house's romantic elegance.
France; Made in Italy / France
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Where next
- Bally — Switzerland
- Dries Van Noten — Het Modepaleis — Antwerp
- Elie Saab — Paris
Hand-curated for ORBIS · no paid placement