Alber Elbaz believes true glamour comes from within.
Lanvin's creative director thinks women who wear designer clothes and expensive jewels only exude the beauty and class they desire if they are confident in their own skin, and not so worried about their weight that they can't tuck into a dessert every now and then.
The Israeli-born designer explained: "It's something that belongs to you. It has a history and that's the beauty of it - like a great necklace you received from your father. My job is to create a second skin. I see people and I think that when they feel free in their head, they become glamorous.
"When they are not free in their head they are not glamorous, even if they are head to toe in diamonds. So, I think, even if it sounds a bit clichéd, its all about personality, about the person being reflected.
"I see enough women who are not gorgeous and they don't have the best body in the world but they are comfortable with who they are and they're eating dessert and they don't think, 'Oh my god, I just ate a dessert!' That's glamour."
Alber - who worked for Yves Saint Laurent before joining luxe brand Lanvin in 2001 - has also introduced his food philosophy to his catwalk shows, joking the cattiness of VIP front row guests can always be appeased by nice canapés and booze.
He added in an interview with InStyle magazine: "That's why at our best shows we always serve good and have music and drinks.
"I believe I will bring out everyone's best side if they are not hungry and miserable... None of that nastiness, 'Who's sitting next to me? Who's on the front row?' "
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