Paris Haute Couture: Egyptian Inspired Flights Of Fancy At Elie Saab

The heyday of the old Levant and Egypt’s rich cultural and artistic scene in the 40s, 50s and 60s served as Lebanese designer Elie Saab’s inspiration.

The turn-heading, slitted dresses with gold thread embroidery had subtle Egyptian symbols and accents like the Nile and its boats, calligraphy, palm trees and the blue evil eye. When it came to hues, the bedazzling styles came in off-white to the more sustained skin colours, with blue being the other main choice.

The azure spectrum ranged from pale to navy blue, with a nod to the deep blue and gold on Tutankhamen’s death mask. This time around, Saab was discrete with his signature shimmer.

He did, however, feature stunning accessories, including stacks of gold bracelets and jewelled headbands when the pieces were embellishment-free. While a more streamlined shape was evident, there were some poufy princess-like dresses. Additionally, capes and trains added some volume to the more practical pantsuits.