In possibly the best news of the decade, high street giant H&M have announced that their latest collaboration will be with ultra-luxe Parisian fashion house Lanvin.

After posting a series of teaser videos on their Facebook page showing various stereotypical designer types waxing lyrical about the collection, and days of speculation as to who it could be (Bottega Veneta’s Thomas Maier and Carolina Herrera being two of the names that were bandied about), it was revealed this morning that Alber Elbaz and Lucas Ossendrijver of Lanvin will bring a touch of French luxury to the high street in November.

The collection, which will include both menswear and womenswear, will be available in 200 stores worldwide on 23rd November, but all will be revealed to the world three weeks prior on 3rd November in a video presentation online.  Unlike some previous collaborations where the designer’s vision has been concentrated into an H&M price point, it sounds as though the Lanvin for H&M pieces might be nearer the top end of the high street scale.  Still, given that in Lanvin’s mainline collection a pair of satin trainers costs more than £300, it will certainly be a vastly more affordable way for us all to buy into the Lanvin dream.  The only question that really remains to be answered: how can H&M possibly top this?!

I don’t know about you, but I’ll be keeping 23rd November absolutely clear in my diary.  Actually, that’s less than three months away …  Best start queueing now!