Lanvin Resort 2009

For his joyful Resort collection for Lanvin, Alber Elbaz was thinking not only of the "idea of vacation" but also of the "perfect American [look] of the fifties—but made in the wrong way." That translated into off-kilter, asymmetrically draped pieces that seemed just right for the season: bias-cut skirts, slouchy pajama suits, scarf dresses, and unstructured cocktail numbers worn with scads of necklaces and embellished with a scattering of beads or sequin polka dots. Elbaz also unveiled his collaborative effort with Acne Jeans: Everything from shoes and bags to a leg-of-mutton-sleeved dress came in darkest denim, giving chic new life to the beloved workaday fabric.