Story & heritage

The pearl-and-ribbon necklace is the most recognisable of Lanvin's costume jewels, and the clearest expression of Alber Elbaz's aesthetic in accessory form. Elbaz, who led Lanvin from 2001 to 2015, built his collections on ribbons, ruching, pleats and a 1920s romance; he carried that vocabulary straight into the jewellery, threading rows of faux pearls onto lengths of grosgrain or satin ribbon and finishing them with a bow or a tie at the nape rather than a clasp.

The result — pearls and ribbon, soft hardware and a hand-tied closure — became a Lanvin signature of the 2000s and 2010s, worn long and knotted, and remains one of the most collected pieces from the Elbaz era.

Materials & craft

The necklaces pair faux pearls — sometimes wrapped in fine black tulle for a smoky finish — with wide grosgrain or satin ribbon, the pearls either strung directly on the ribbon or gathered into ruched sections between ribbon ties. Crystal rondelles punctuate the larger multi-strand versions. There is no metal clasp: the necklace fastens by tying the ribbon ends, a deliberately soft, hand-finished gesture.

How to choose & style

The pearl-and-ribbon necklace is meant to be the focal point — worn long over a plain neckline, knotted or tied, the ribbon ends left to fall. The taupe and nude ribbons read softest and most everyday; the black tulle-wrapped multi-strand versions are the evening statement. As soft jewellery with no metal at the throat, it carries the house's romance without weight.