Elie Saab’s Dark, Glamorous Ballerina Story for Fall/Winter 2017

Midnight flowers are the most mysterious, blooming in the dark where no eye can chance upon their tremendous beauty. They also have the best names: moonflower, night scented orchid, evening primrose. These magical midnight florals became the tapestry that wove Elie Saab’s dramatic Fall/Winter 2017 collection together, etched into bespoke lace, appliquéd in sultry velvet tones, and painted onto leather jackets. Saab cited the famed ballet Giselle as the inspiration behind this collection, and the flowers reflected the theme by reminding one of the bouquet that Albrecht lays upon Giselle’s grave, and the popular “Giselle” flowers sold by Madame Lainné.

While unrequited passion and supernatural jilted lovers called the “Willis” were central to Giselle’s story, Saab’s sartorial remake lacked the bitterness elicited in the tale. Instead, he stuck to romantic influences inspired by the performance itself, showing lots of ballerina-esque lace tulle frocks which he toughened up by pairing with intimidating leather jackets or topped with massively sophisticated fur-trimmed coats. His Giselle was no damsel in distress.

Saab cited the famed ballet Giselle as the inspiration behind this collection.

Beautiful eye candy is always expected from a Saab presentation, but aspects of this collection were particularly dreamy, like floaty sheer dresses washed with multiple jewel and pastel tones like an ombre fade that bloomed from the center outward. Those will look great on willowy A-listers like Zoe Saldana and Gwyneth Paltrow. So will the artistically embroidered cape-and-gown combinations and the ridiculously pretty Victorian lace-and-ruffle dresses, which recalled the costume styles of the 19th-century ballet. This picturesque collection was as breathtaking as Giselle en pointe, who by the way, was resurrected by The Washington Ballet just two days ago – a  point of timeliness that boasts well of Saab’s dark, romantic premonition for fall.