Lanvin

Lanvin began with a hat shop and grew into a complete idea of French dress. Jeanne Lanvin established her business in Paris in 1889, developing a house whose interests extended from couture to interiors and fragrance. Color and decoration became part of its vocabulary, supported by a close attention to the way a garment moved around its wearer.

The house introduced a dedicated menswear department in 1926. That early commitment gives men’s clothing a longer place in Lanvin’s history than its recent runway reputation alone might suggest. Tailoring provided a foundation, but the modern appeal has often come from the relationship between formal clothes and a less prescribed way of wearing them.

Under Alber Elbaz’s artistic leadership, menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver developed that relationship through soft construction and unexpected material combinations. A suit could lose some of its formality, while sportswear and sneakers entered the conversation on luxury’s terms. Bruno Sialelli, creative director from 2019 to 2023, brought a more graphic and playful sensibility to the house, including the exaggerated proportions of the Curb sneaker.

Peter Copping joined as artistic director in 2024, taking responsibility for both women’s and men’s collections. His work returns to Jeanne Lanvin’s archive and its decorative possibilities, giving the founder’s history a place in the contemporary wardrobe. Across these changes, Lanvin’s menswear has offered an alternative to rigid definitions of elegance, allowing a tailored silhouette to accommodate softness and personal character.