A very happy birthday: Lanvin marks a decade of Alber Elbaz's reign

Lanvin’s new collection of accessories celebrates a decade of Alber Elbaz’s reign at the Parisian label

Happiness. What a wonderful feeling it is, and something about which the diminutive designer Alber Elbaz knows plenty. Celebrating a decade at Lanvin earlier this year, he closed the label's autumn/winter catwalk presentation with a spirited solo performance of "Que Sera, Sera".

Having experienced his fair share of tumultuous changes during his pre-Lanvin career, the designer dedicated the song to all "the people from fashion that I adore that helped me to realise my dream".

The celebrations don't stop with Elbaz's musical turn, though, rather shaky footage of which is available online and well worth a watch. Later this month, a capsule collection of accessories entitled "Happy" will be released, which will bring together 10 themed interpretations of Elbaz's signature styles during his tenure at the house.

At the centre of each is the Happy bag – an iconic style featuring a chain handle, fold-over flap and twist-lock fastening – which has been trimmed, embellished and decorated to capture the Lanvin look of feminine sophistication. Wrought in panther- and leopard-print, embellished with grosgrain ribbon and tulle or sprinkled with diamantés, pearls or pom-poms, a pair of shoes (heels, ballet pumps, hi-tops and Oxfords all appear) and necklace complete each theme.

Also this season the brand has launched an ad campaign, shot by Steven Meisel, starring real people (rather than models) aged 18 to 81. A behind-the-scenes video to accompany the campaign features vignettes of the stars revealing anecdotes to Elbaz, hidden behind the camera.

Prices start at £340 – not what you might call purse-friendly. But what price happiness?

Photographer – Steven Meisel
Creative Direction – House and Holme, Ronnie Newhouse and Stephen Wolstenholme
Make-Up – Pat McGrath
Hair – Guido Palau
Set Design – Mary Howard