From dreamy ethereal gowns to larger-than-life fantastical creations, haute couture is pure escapism.
For spring/summer 2017, designer Elie Saab drew from the Egyptian culture from the ’40s to ’60s and used Arab influences in the collection. The silhouettes and motifs gave nod to Egyptian and Arab pop culture and cinema, in particular the party scene in the iconic movie I Don’t Sleep from 1959, when actress Faten Hamama wears a stunning gown with crystal embellishments on the shoulder.
Star-shaped and palm-tree motifs embroidered in crystal were seen throughout the collection. More delicate embroideries inspired by Arabic calligraphy also had a strong presence. Evening wear is still the crux of haute couture and traditionally, the couture show closes with an exquisite bridal look. This season, Elie Saab closed his spring/summer 2017 show with a spectacular gown that kept its voluminous shape with a crinoline and a tulle petticoat, and featured a train and veil that used over 30 meters of tulle.
We went up to Mr. Saab’s Parisian studio in the 16th arrondissement, a stone’s throw away from the Eiffel Tower, to find out exactly what went into making the final look. Beautiful dresses from past collections were displayed on mannequins and strategically lit to highlight the shimmering intricacies of Mr. Saab’s designs. The main area of the studio was receiving private couture clients, so we stepped into the adjacent room to see the beautiful gown. Pia Salem, the studio supervisor who is based in Beirut, walked us through the intricacies of the dress.
