Alber Elbaz 'Was Sure There Would Be No One' In Line For Lanvin Hearts H&M

After throwing an over-the-top runway show last Thursday, Lanvin Hearts H&M hit selected stores over the weekend, and designer Alber Elbaz was shocked at the turnout to purchase his mass-market duds.

Elbaz checked out the line at Madison Avenue and 59th Street at 8 a.m. and he told WWD, "We stayed in New York one more night so we could see this...I don't dare go in." He added, "I can't believe it. I was sure there would be no one. I was a bit panicked. This is a once in a lifetime experience."

WWD didn't hesitate to ask shoppers how much they spent -- with dresses priced from $199 to $249, it wasn't too hard to spend over a couple of hundred bucks. But thousands? Sure. Cue WWD:

• Caitlin, who declined to give her last name, said the quality was good, but the sizes "itsy bitsy." She still managed to spend1,800.
• Wensen Ho, a 30-year-old who works in advertising, spent around3,000 buying virtually every item from the women's assortment for his wife. "She is pregnant and can't be here, so I am doing a run," he said.
• Nicole Eng, a 27-year-old graphic designer, said, "It was this collection that really introduced me to Lanvin." Eng ended up spending1,700 on Lanvin (Hearts) H&M. She said it was "the most I've ever spent in my life.''