As The World Mourns Alber Elbaz, We Look Back At His Most Iconic Red Carpet Moments

The fashion industry lost one of its most beloved legends this weekend when it was announced that Alber Elbaz, 59, had passed away from Covid-19. Elbaz, who was born in Casablanca, Morocco, but considered himself Israeli, is still most famous for his tenure at Lanvin, the heritage maison where he held the position of creative director until 2015. The industry was left reeling when he departed because during those years, Elbaz managed an often impossible feat. Not only did he win over fashion's inner circle almost unanimously, but also, and perhaps more importantly, the mainstream – people who would look at, say, Natalie Portman, on the red carpet and just think, 'wow'.

In fact, as well as catwalk shows, the red carpet became a kind of stage for Elbaz. Almost every mega-watt star of modern times had what, in fashion circles, is known as a 'moment' wearing Lanvin. Beyoncé chose one of his dresses, a fiery orange gown with one caped shoulder, to announce her pregnancy to the world at 2011's MTV Music Awards. In 2008, Tilda Swinton wore what must be one of the coolest red carpet dresses of all time, and an instant classic by Elbaz, to the Oscars. And in 2012, Meryl Streep beamed from her podium at the Academy Awards, where she had just swept to victory for The Iron Lady, wearing a gown that looked like the gilded statuette she was holding.

Kim Kardashian also wore Lanvin, a strapless, sapphire-coloured and cinched-waisted silk confection, to her first ever Met Gala. Posting a tribute on Instagram, Kardashian wrote: ' Our fittings were filled with laughs and hugs! What a sweet soul. I will cherish all of our memories forever.'

It's when you stop to think that he had such long-standing relationships with so many stars - Kristin Scott-Thomas, Tilda Swinton, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Eva Mendes, Emma Stone, all turned again and again to Elbaz - that you realise how much impact he had on the red carpet and, in turn, on how the rest of us wanted to dress. And how sad it is that after a five-year 'break' from the fashion industry, Elbaz was back to making headlines once again with AZ Factory, his size-inclusive (and technically innovative) brand that launched at this year's Paris Couture Week.

Moore, who shared a photograph of eight dresses she had worn over the years by Elbaz, also posted a picture with him on Instagram. 'Here we are at one of his shows in Paris - not pictured is my sister Valerie who Alber dressed as well and who he called a bombshell and said “that is how my dress should be worn”. I am only one of the thousands who will miss him and were so profoundly touched by his work but more importantly his very being.'