Going overboard with extravagance and glaring oomph is an unfortunate epidemic in creative fields – not the case for couturier Elie Saab though. Even in the slightest. As a hard-headed minimalist who thrives on the simplest of details found in Jil Sander and Peter Do’s offerings, I sincerely harbour a sweet spot for Saab’s tryst with design and glam maximalism. He’s got his harmonies right. And a business team equally capable of lending relevance to a brand that’s been in the market for 45 long years. Yes, it’s been that long.
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To commemorate this milestone, Elie Saab staged a celebratory show inspired by the stories of One Thousand and One Nights. The production was… well, on quite large a scale with performances from Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez being the obvious highlight. It’s of note how Saab began as a lone designer with 15 seamstresses and has since grown into an enviable empire and become a household name, with workshops in Paris, Milan, and Lebanon.
Here Comes Halle
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When he dressed American actress Halle Berry to accept her Oscar for Monster’s Ball in 2002, he became well-known throughout the world. Two things made it noteworthy: Saab was the first Lebanese designer to wear an Oscar winner, and Berry was the first Black woman to win Best Actress. Berry’s celebration of Saab—the man, the designer, and the musical—in Riyadh was therefore not surprising. She walked the catwalk for the performance wearing the famous red, sheer-breasted Saab gown she wore to the 2002 Academy Awards.
Dion Dynasty
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To conclude the performance came THEE Celine Dion, who’s battling a rare neurological condition called ‘stiff person syndrome,’ and valiantly sang The Power Of Love and I’m Alive. After announcing her battle with the condition, Celine Dion called her first performance in Riyadh a “dream come true.” The singer performed this iconic 1993 song while interacting with models passing by on the catwalk as she wrapped up the ‘1001 Seasons of Elie Saab’ event in the heart of the middle-east wearing a dress in a draped, shimmering pink Elie Saab gown.
Get Low With JLo
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JLo wore a sparkling bodysuit underneath a fringed cloak that absolutely glistened when she emerged from the rafters off the stage. Classic her. The ensemble included elaborate swirls of gold, silver, and white appliqués and respected both JLo and Elie Saab’s penchant for all things OTT in the best way possible. Saab had also supplied one of the Bridgerton ballgowns that Lopez wore to her 55th birthday celebration in the Hamptons during the summer, hinting at their long-standing partnership throughout the years.
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