An Ode to Delicateness

I was stunned by Elie Saab’s Spring/Summer 2013 show for the Paris Couture Fashion Week.

Naming his collection An Ode to Delicateness, Saab could not be more spot on. As always he fails to disappoint his eager audience.

A brilliant collection, I thought Elie Saab outdid himself yet again with a collection that is almost painfully delicate, and endlessly feminine. We’ll go over some of the most striking highlights of the show.

The always-glamorous burlesque performer Dita Von Teese was one of the most noticeable attendees of the show. In a glittery coat over a knee-length dress, Von Teese impressed in classic black.

The show kicked off with angelic white. The first shade of Saab’s choice. This piece is is a long-sleeve block-white with subtle embellishments on the chest.

Saab experimented with cuts, although always keeping it delicate. I am in love with the the embellished top on this piece.

Classic was in, and the sequins here are just a preview of what is to come in this collection in terms of glamour and shine.

Then came the pastel blues of the collection. With an almost aquatic theme, the gowns were embroidered so delicately in coralesque patterns with shimmering blue crystal.

I love the sleeves on this piece; romantic, dreamy, nostalgic almost.

Again with the daring cuts, I love the embroidered neckline and we can see how Saab kept it consistent with the aquatic embroidery on the most delicate of fabrics.

A more floral theme was also observed on some of the gowns in the show. Using 3D flowers on top of sheer fabric made the gowns look ethereal and floaty.

I loved the clustered crystals on the neck and sleeves of this piece. Glamour at its most refined.

The most striking part of the show was when the dusty lavender gowns went in. In my opinion, they were the most delicate of all pieces and truly encapsulated what the theme of the show was about. They looked almost too delicate for words.

The way these dresses moved was unbelievable. Very fairy-like and dreamy.

A touch of peachy gold warmed up the collection.

What I found refreshing was that, towards the end of the show, Saab starts giving the collection an edge. Out with the pale pastels and in with the more striking colors, just to avoid making the collection too sweet. In came the ladies in red.

With baroque black detailing over soft florals, Saab kept showing the darker, edgier side of the collection. I love the clash in this piece.

Of course, in came the ladies in all black, but the pieces did not lack the subtlety, craft, and delicateness of previous designs. All what changes was the color.

The sheer fabrics made the black gowns look like ethereal smoke on the runway.

And of course, last came the highlight of the show: the bride. With the most delicate of lace and striking baroque patterns, this bridal dress incorporates simplicity and complication at once. The fabrics give it that clean, luxurious look and the detailing is extremely poetic.

Defining luxury, An Ode to Delicateness  was an ethereal collection that does not disappoint Saab’s clientele. Always proving to be the master of his own craft, Elie Saab shines again in Paris Fashion Week.

Hala Ajam and Elie Saab at Dubai Fashion Week.

Hala Ajam is a Lebanese makeup artist who has worked with international and local celebrities such as Queen Rania, Claudia Schiffer, Haifa Wehbe, Nawal El-Zoghbi, and Shereen Abdul Wahhab.