Elie Saab

Article about Fashion Designer Elie Saab

Article:

Elie Saab has become synonymous with luxury and modernism. A serious couturier with a powerful and unique vision, Saab takes luxury to its zenith, designs for a woman that is both dreamlike and elegant.

Elie Saab has the wonderful ability to let women look as if they are coming out of a dream. Saab started creating dressmaking patterns during childhood, and what helped was that his mother was already in this business. Saab's interest in dressmaking started at the young age of 9. He spent much of his free time cutting patterns and drawing sketches for his sisters using his mother's tablecloths and curtains.

In 1982, Elie Saab opened his first atelier in Lebanon at the age of 18 with ten employees. He began designing luxurious evening gowns and exquisite wedding dresses. Saab quickly proved that his talent surpassed his age when he showed his first collection at the Casino du Liban in the North of Beirut. Garnering extensive media coverage, Saab's astounding debut collection dazzled the Lebanese press, who instantly dubbed him in the "precocious genius."

Saab's prodigal talent for design and public renown fueled his career throughout the 1980's. The Elie Saab couture house became a magnet for princesses clamoring to buy his lavish evening wear. His successive couture collection was an enduring testament to his ability to innovate, as Saab showcased clothing that was always feminine and alluring on the runway.

Saab's collections are glamorous and sophisticated, fusing a cultural myriad of fashion influences to give a distinctive and modern edge to his designs. He experiments with the central themes of femininity and romanticism, creating clothing that is cut-to-the-curve, with soft edges and exquisite detail including hand embroidery and the use of luxurious fabrics such as mousseline and silk.

In the 1990's, as Saab's reputation spread through the media internationally, he continued to expand his business, moving to a larger atelier in Beirut and organizing exclusive fashion shows in Europe. Another landmark moment came for Saab in 1997, when he was invited to make part of the prestigious Camera Nazionale
della Moda as the only non-Italian designer to be invited at that time. He began to show his couture collection in Rome during Alta Moda Fashion week.

Milan, in Italy, was the place where E.S. launched his new showroom representation. This collection was the start of an enormous success, which has spread worldwide since then, including countries from all around the world.

With new showroom representation in Italy in 1998, Saab launched his first ready-to-wear collection in Milan to rave reviews. The collection experienced tremendous success garnering sales worldwide including Paris, London, Madrid, Moscow, Los Angles, New York and Hong Kong.

In 2000, Saab opened a salon and showroom in Paris's eighth arrondissement to target his cosmopolitan and international clientele. That same year, he began showing his couture collection in the city creating a buzz among the fashion elite.

E.S. reached stardom when Actress Halle Berry, who wore a gown of his creation, won an Oscar for Best Actress. He became a favorite for other A list celebrities, for the likes of: Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elizabeth Hurley, Marcia Cross, Emmanuelle Béart and Teri Hatcher. Saab is also the couturier of Royals, for the likes of Stylish Queen Rania of Jordan.

The breakthrough moment came for him in July 2003, when he showed his Haute Couture collection in Paris, but this time, as an officially invited member of the Prestigious Chambre Syndicale.

Saab's breakthrough moment came in July of 2003 when he showed his Haute couture collection in Paris as an officially invited member of the prestigious Chambre Syndicale. The response from the press and retailers was overwhelming. Two years later, in October of 2005, Saab launched his expanded ready-to-wear collection on the Paris runway and has since made his second home there.

In 2005, Saab opened his first boutique and moved his headquarters to the heart of downtown Beirut. The five floors, ultra-modern building houses his Atelier, Couture salon, Accessory, and Ready-to-Wear collections.

In 2006, E.S. was nominated as “Membre Correspondent” at the Chambre Syndicale de la Fédération Française.

The Business of Elie Saab carries on growing. S. opened in March 2007, a flagship in Paris, at 1, Rond Point des Champs Elysées.

And in July 2008 was the opening of his first UK Boutique, in Harrod’s.

His 07-08 collection was inspired by the elegant 60’s spirit, and focused on the following main points, if one may say:

- Shirts in jeans and Lurex.
- Large sleeves with narrow wrists.
- Coats cut like dresses.
- Slim waists, large belts.
- Narrow skirts.
- Color range: purple, emerald, black…
- Dark colors play with bright ones in the same dress.
- Last but not least: dentelle and mousseline, for a delicate yet powerful feminity.

Lately, a cake was called “Elie Saab”, at the “Café de la Paix”, Paris, France.

And the dream goes on…

Web sources: wikipedia.org - eliesaab.com, fashionandbeauty.cafeversatil.com, pronovias.us, weddingsandbrides.cafeversatil.com