Elie Saab’s presentations are predicated on beauty. It’s a simple notion – to create something beautiful for a woman to wear should be the paramount aim of all designers, but the field is diverse and there’s room for all kinds of thought regarding what style or fashion “should” be. In Saab’s world, it’s easy. He’s the reigning champion of the red carpet for a reason.
Before you ever view a Saab presentation, you know you’re in for something divine, but what you don’t know is what form it will take this time around. For Fall/Winter 2014, it’s ombré gowns, dramatic furs, and feminine fabrics. He launches with a series of rose-colored looks that range from floor-sweeping capes to sheer, embroidered blouses that were tied off with strategically placed bows. The palette changes in clearly delineated stages: rose to dusty pink to dark blossom prints to lacy black to emerald, and then he does it all over again for coruscated eveningwear. The luscious noir palette is only one reason this collection is named “Dark Opulence.” The opulent part comes into play on his sumptuous furs and crystallized gowns. One of the freshest components of Saab’s collection is its ability to be self-contained. It never glances askance at other designers to see what they’re doing. It doesn’t take the temperature of current trends. Instead, it reinvigorates the Saab aesthetic for the Fall/Winter 2014 season, and when your formula is this delightful, why ever change it?
Photos: Courtesy of GoRunway
