Ever since I received an invite for a special preview of Lanvin x H&M collection, I’ve been on the edge of my proverbial seat. Yes, we’ve all seen the many sneak peeks online, but to actually be able to see and touch the clothes up close and personal, would make shopping day that much easier, no? So, when Jo and I made our way to the AGO earlier this week, we were pretty pumped!

The moment we stepped out of the elevator, we were greeted by a group of immaculately dressed and styled mannequins dripping in “luxurious H&M”. The room was squared off by racks full of Lanvin x H&M, complete with beautiful garment bags, boxes and shoes on the floor. Immediately, I was drawn to the items I’ve already selected via the lookbook: the yellow ruffle dress, the pink asymmetrical dress, and the same one in deep plum. The fabric of the pink and plum dresses was a bit on a stiffer side (crinoline?), but I  guess it was necessary to give the needed architectural quality to the dress. I absolutely loved the exposed zipper detailing, and the puffy-poofy shoulder – both dresses were just as beautiful as expected.

The asymmetrical yellow dress was also quite nice. I couldn’t gauge what type of fabric it was made of, but it was definitely a heavier one – perhaps a cotton blend? I am still swooning over that dress today…the color, the ruffles, the zipper…the color! I was a bit worried about the unfinished hem, which is present in many Lanvin designs. Would it unravel faster, since it’s not actual Lanvin? Would it make the dress look cheaper? In my opinion, unravelling shouldn’t be a problem, as the stitching above the “unfinished hem” would keep the threads from coming apart. And none of the pieces I pawed at looked cheap at all. I think, if you’re able to score a Lanvin x H&M dress, or even a faux fur piece, you’ll be a lucky owner for many years to come.

The rest of the coollection (typo and I’m keeping it) did not disappoint as well. If you are a fan of the floral print, both floral dresses looked lovely and felt good to the touch. Again, little details, such as exposed zippers and elastic waist belts completed the look. A few people seemed disappointed with the use of elastic bands on dresses, but I really didn’t mind it. In my opinion, it’s better to have a built-in belt, and having an option of wearing something else over it, rather than not having any kind of waist definition at all.

Accessories were another point of contention. I, for one, seriously loved the pink necklace! Yes, it’s plastic. But it’s only $39! A piece of statement costume jewelry like that would spruce up any LBD that you have lifelessly hanging in your closet. It’s not an heirloom piece that you could pass down to your grandkids, but for what it’s worth, I felt that if funky jewels are your thing, then this Lanvin x H&M necklace would be a pretty good buy.

As far as the shoes go, I wasn’t really into them when the first photos of the collection hit the interwebs, and I wasn’t into them when I saw them at the AGO. I really wish they had some signature Lanvin flats instead, but regardless, many attendees went gaga for these pointy-toe pumps. My favorite of the bunch was definitely the black pair with rhinestone-covered heels – simple, yet different enough to stand out among the many shoes in my closet.

One thing I didn’t like about the shoes were the hard soles that didn’t bend or have any give. This was explained as part of the sample folly – all samples are made pretty fast, and aren’t meant to be worn. The lovely Emily, who is part of the H&M dream-team and who looked stunning in head-to-toe Lanvin x H&M, did say that the leopard-print pumps she wore that day were very comfy.

The rest of the night was a bit of a blur…I kept coming back to my favorite dresses to touch and feel them, and imagine what it would feel like to wear them. I also walked over to the men’s side to check out some of the offerings. There were some very nice pieces, but the most buzzed about were definitely the sweat pants and the cozy, soft cardigans, which even the ladies in attendance were lusting after.

Needless to say, I am dying to get my hands on a few pieces from this collection. As far as Toronto stores are concerned, Lanvin x H&M will be carried at Yorkdale, Eaton Centre, and Bloor St. locations. Stores will open at 8am to accommodate the anticipated demand, and each person will only be allowed 15 minutes to shop. And though this might seem a tad rigid, I am really happy that there seems to be some sort of structure to the madness that is sure to ensue. As long as you’ve done your research, 15 minutes should be plenty of time to get in, grab your most-wanted items, and happily saunter off to the fitting rooms.

But the question remains…will you be lining up on November 20th to get your very own piece of H&M luxury amazingness by Alber Elbaz? If so, I will surely see you there!