LANVIN, Paris’s oldest and most colorful fashion house, knows the importance of good window-shopping. Designer Alber Elbaz and his creative displays are the subjects of an upcoming Rizzoli tome set to hit stores, and coffee tables, in October.

The 260-page book, titled Lanvin: I Love You, highlights 200 color photos of the house’s eccentric storefront displays and installations. We’re not talking your run-of-the-mill mannequins. Expect to see hand-drawn sketches, vintage cars, and even musical instruments made of crushed cans. Alber is known for incorporating elaborate props and artwork into every display and begins each one with a story and sketch. “Windows are the most direct way to communicate with people,” he writes in the book’s foreword.

Between this and the upcoming Louis Vuitton photography book, my fashion library is about to get a serious fall upgrade – even if my wardrobe isn’t.

By Mairead McGonagle, Staff Writer