. >> reporter: may not look the part. [ speaking french ] >> reporter: but lanvin al lber elbaz has theo be relevant for the moment. the day after, the day before it is sour. try this ones. >> reporter: this 50-year-old designer has been making cloths for the moment as creative director of lanvin for ten years. resurrecting a label with a good name but not much else into a luxury fashion force. you came to paris just for him? >> yes. yes. >> why? >> i think if you're going to see a show, his work is so spectacular it is going to be worth it. >> reporter: and they do come, because elbaz is able to do in fashion what few others can, create clothes that wow but don't scream at you. you say your work is like a whisper, explain that. >> i think that whispering is something very personal because when someone whisper to you, he has to get really close to you. >> reporter: clothes both customers crave and critics adore. all around, there were raves for his latest collection for spring 2012. >> he could use those clothes which as soon as you put them on, you feel really good about yourself. >> r

. >> elbaz is able to do in fashion what few others can. >> you say your work is like a whisper.hat. >> i think that whispering is something very personal. when someone whisper to you, they have to get really close to y you. this is a very intimate relationships. >> clothes customers crave and critics adore. all around, there were raves for his latest collection for spring 2012. >> these clothes, as soon as you put them on, you feel really good about yourself. >> reporter: a trendsetter too. so much so when he created an affordable line for h&m last year, it sold out. this season, elboz launched clothes for kids. >> to the coutour. >> with three to four figure price tags, miniature copes of mom's clothes from the most coped designer on the planet. >> reporter: how do you know that you have made it? how do you design success? >> i don't. oh, i never know. first of all, i think i am always the worse until the day before. i think it is going to be a flop and i am like totally depressed. someone said that, you know, success is like a perfume. if you smell it, it is good. if you drink