Alber Elbaz Quotes

Powerful Alber Elbaz for Daily Growth

About Alber Elbaz

Alber Elbaz (1961 - Present) is a renowned fashion designer, known for his innovative, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent approach to design. Born in Morocco and raised in France, Elbaz's cultural background significantly influenced his aesthetic sensibilities. He studied at the American University of Paris and later at the CMFT Fashion School in London. Elbaz started his career as an assistant designer for Yves Saint Laurent before joining Guy Laroche in 1985. In 1996, he was appointed head designer at Yves Saint Laurent's ready-to-wear line Rive Gauche, where he infused the label with a fresh, modern spirit. In 2001, Elbaz took over as Creative Director of Lanvin, a venerable French fashion house. His tenure at Lanvin was marked by a unique blend of tradition and innovation. He redefined the brand's iconic silhouette, creating garments that were both timeless and contemporary. Under his leadership, Lanvin won numerous awards, including being named "Fashion House of the Year" by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2007 and 2010. Elbaz's designs are characterized by their versatility, comfort, and emotional resonance. He once said, "I don't design clothes; I design dreams." His collections often reflected his personal experiences and emotions, making them deeply connected to the wearer. In 2015, Elbaz left Lanvin amidst a change of ownership. Since then, he has been working on various projects, including collaborations with H&M and a capsule collection for Maison Lesage. He continues to be a powerful voice in the fashion industry, advocating for inclusivity, sustainability, and emotional intelligence in design.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I always think that fashion is about making women feel good about themselves."

The quote emphasizes the humanizing aspect of fashion, as designed by Alber Elbaz. He views fashion not merely as an expression of aesthetics, but a means to boost self-confidence and empower women by helping them feel comfortable and good about themselves. This perspective on fashion encourages designers to create clothing that reflects the wearer's personality and enhances their natural beauty rather than conforming to rigid standards or trends.


"The best thing to hit the streets this season: a smile."

This quote by Alber Elbaz emphasizes the power and importance of a genuine smile in any situation or context, particularly when referring to fashion and style. He suggests that the most significant trend for the season is not an item of clothing or accessory, but rather a positive and friendly demeanor symbolized by a smile, implying that kindness, positivity, and authenticity are timeless and universal styles that transcend fleeting trends.


"Fashion is not about being seen, it's about seeing."

Alber Elbaz's quote "Fashion is not about being seen, it's about seeing" suggests that fashion serves as a medium to express one's individuality, creativity, and personal style rather than just a means to attract attention or follow trends blindly. It encourages individuals to embrace their unique perspectives and tastes in clothing, allowing their personality to shine through their choices, thereby enhancing their own self-awareness and perception of the world around them.


"I don't design for an ideal woman, I design for women in real life."

This quote emphasizes that designer Alber Elbaz creates clothing not for an imaginary, perfect female figure, but for women as they exist in everyday life. He values diversity, inclusivity, and the reality of a wide range of body types and styles. His designs aim to cater to the needs, comforts, and expressions of real women.


"Clothes are like a kind of psychological pants. They have to give you the feeling of being confident."

This quote by Alber Elbaz suggests that clothing serves a dual purpose, both functional (covering our bodies) and emotional (affecting our psyche). By wearing clothes that make us feel good about ourselves, they can boost our confidence, helping us to present ourselves more positively in the world. Essentially, the right outfit can empower us psychologically.


I wanted to go out of fashion, to study medicine. I thought, you know, who needs fashion? How important is it if you wear a red dress and an orange jacket? It's not, really.

- Alber Elbaz

Dress, Study, Needs, Jacket

I always wear a dinner jacket. I never have this definition of what goes for the morning or the evening or what works for the weekend.

- Alber Elbaz

Goes, Always, Works, Jacket

I do sport at the gym a few times a week, but I hate it. Work is my only remedy. I feel so twisted and horrible in the morning, but then I go to the office and I start feeling better. Work is my Tylenol. Extra-strength.

- Alber Elbaz

Office, Week, Feel, Remedy

How do you stand out as a fashion ad campaign? By using people off the street; it does generate buzz.

- Alber Elbaz

Using, Ad, Ad Campaign, Generate

Nothing is ever enough for me. I'm always thinking what is wrong, what needs to be fixed.

- Alber Elbaz

Always, Needs, Ever, Fixed

I was a fat child; I was asthmatic. No wonder I'm a hypochondriac.

- Alber Elbaz

Hypochondriac, No Wonder, Asthmatic

We are being accused that some models are anorexic. But we as fashion designers cannot be blamed, because you know, when I talk to women around the world, rich and poor and young and old and intellectual and not, what they want to be is skinny. You ask them, 'What is your dream?' It's to be skinny. That's all they want.

- Alber Elbaz

Young, Some, Anorexic, Blamed

I am not interested in perfection, and neither are the women who wear my clothes.

- Alber Elbaz

Clothes, Wear, Am, Perfection

Why not touch things that we hate and turn them upside down and inside out?

- Alber Elbaz

Why, Upside, Things, Why Not

If I wasn't a designer, I would love to be a doctor. That is my fantasy, my dream. A doctor will give you a tablet if you have a headache, and I will give you a dress, and we both make you feel good.

- Alber Elbaz

Love, Dress, Give, Headache

My dream is to be a doctor. I'm almost working in a laboratory, because I'm trying new techniques, new directions and fabrics, new weaving.

- Alber Elbaz

Doctor, New, Almost, Weaving

I think that if you want to pass emotion, you have to write a letter. Emotions do not pass in SMS or in e-mail.

- Alber Elbaz

Think, Emotions, I Think, E-Mail

I certainly can't complain. I work six days a week, if not seven, and eighteen hours out of twenty-four - fortunately, with a great deal of pleasure. Why? Because I only do something if I want to do it; I need to feel a desire, to find pleasure in moving forward, creating, moving, inventing.

- Alber Elbaz

Week, Seven, Deal, Six Days

I spend my time backstage at the Lanvin shows, and when I come out at the end, all I see are people's eyes.

- Alber Elbaz

People, Come, I See, Backstage

At Yves Saint Laurent, I felt like the son-in-law - like I was part of the family, but not quite. When I was fired, I felt like the widow.

- Alber Elbaz

Fired, Saint, Widow, Son-In-Law

I always think, if I were an editor, and I was invited to a show, and I would have to wait for 45 minutes in the dark or in the cold or in the heat, maybe I would like to have a fresh drink or a piece of chocolate.

- Alber Elbaz

Heat, Think, Always, Fresh

I'm not a religious person in the regular sense, but in the Bible you're not allowed to steal, you're not allowed to lie and you're not allowed to feel you're above other people.

- Alber Elbaz

Bible, Other, Religious, Regular

I work on fittings, mostly. You know, I sketch less and less in my work. I sketch for the show sometimes, but then it becomes more conceptual. But when I don't sketch, it becomes more pragmatic.

- Alber Elbaz

Work, More, Mostly, Pragmatic

'Commercial' is not the word that has to be said only by CEOs. It has to be something that is maybe the essence of design, because design has some sort of art in it and creation, but it's also some object that you have to use. There is also this pragmatic end to it.

- Alber Elbaz

Art, Some, Commercial, Pragmatic

I love to see old women. I love wrinkles. I love gray hair.

- Alber Elbaz

Love, Wrinkles, See, Old Women

I barely finish one pre-collection before I must start on another. Sales start, but I am already elsewhere creatively. The men's show is being prepared, but we also need to think about accessories, perfumes and other items. In sum, I never stop.

- Alber Elbaz

Other, Prepared, Before, Never Stop

I always say that women are very strong and men are powerful. But beauty gives you both strength and power. I never think of it. It's just one of those natural things. It's the only thing I know how to do.

- Alber Elbaz

Beauty, Strong, Very, Women Are

If you take something out of the freezer, it's cold, but what happens when it melts? It's a cool party, a cool person, a cool collection. What does that mean? I'm more interested in things that are uncool, things that have a certain individuality, a certain soul, a certain longevity, emotion, fragility.

- Alber Elbaz

Soul, Cold, Out, Longevity

For me, Lancome was more than just a brand. There was something very nostalgic about the name, about the whole story.

- Alber Elbaz

More, Very, Nostalgic, Brand

The worst thing that can happen is if you're stuck within a bubble and you think that is what life is all about. It's great to see other people and hear from people of different ages and opinions.

- Alber Elbaz

Think, Happen, Worst Thing, Stuck

One woman told me that every time she wears Lanvin, men fall in love with her. Another told me she wore Lanvin to face her husband's lawyer because she felt protected. If I can make men fall in love with women and if I can protect women, I think I can die peacefully.

- Alber Elbaz

Love, Die, I Think, Lawyer

I don't go out to parties because I'd look terrible in pictures. My escape is television - it's like meditation to me.

- Alber Elbaz

Television, Go, Like, Escape

I want to know where is that committee in Switzerland that sits to decide what is in and what is out. I don't listen to the formula makers. I think maybe I have a selective hearing disorder.

- Alber Elbaz

Think, Committee, I Think, Hearing

My father, who was a hair colourist, died when I was young, so my mother had to work very hard. But at the same time, I do believe that if you have everything, it is easy to make a dinner. When you only have flour and water and olives and potatoes, you have to be much more creative, and that's what my mother is all about.

- Alber Elbaz

Young, Potatoes, Very, Flour

When you come into a house like Saint Laurent, or Chanel, or Lanvin, and you go into a place that existed before you were born and will exist after you die, it takes some time to get in, to get to people, and to get the energy of the place.

- Alber Elbaz

Die, Some, Before, Chanel

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