Elie Saab is a Lebanese fashion designer. Long known in the Middle East as a leading haute couturier, his overtly feminine aesthetic and romantic crystal-encrusted gowns initially attracted princesses, and later, film stars, enamoured with his Middle Eastern detailing and European sensibility. “I was born with this passion of creating and making dresses and was always surrounded by beautiful women, from my sisters to neighbours,” he has said, “so the desire to dress them and make them look elegant was my constant inspiration.”
After becoming interested in dress-making at the age of nine (his initial clientele being his sisters), Saab opened his first couture atelier in Beirut in 1982 when he was just 18 years old.
In Beirut, his reputation grew from dressing the women in his neighbourhood, and was soon enhanced by high society women who began sporting his designs. He has always stated that his designs are about “glorifying women”.
His first ready-to-wear line launched in Milan in 1998, and, with his penchant for brightly coloured silks, chiffons, pearl beading and embroidered lace, showcased a similar aesthetic as his couture pieces.
In 2002, he became the first Middle Eastern designer to dress an Oscar winner, when Halle Berry accepted her Best Actress gong for Monster’s Ball wearing one of his gowns.
He has also dressed - among others - Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
He released his first fragrance, Le Parfum, in 2011.
Today, Elie Saab is a truly global empire, with boutiques in Paris, London and Dubai. His clothes are on sale in 22 countries, and he has expanded his business into bags, shoes, fragrance and jewellery.
In Beirut, his reputation grew from dressing the women in his neighbourhood, and was soon enhanced by high society women who began sporting his designs. He has always stated that his designs are about “glorifying women”.
His first ready-to-wear line launched in Milan in 1998, and, with his penchant for brightly coloured silks, chiffons, pearl beading and embroidered lace, showcased a similar aesthetic as his couture pieces.
In 2002, he became the first Middle Eastern designer to dress an Oscar winner, when Halle Berry accepted her Best Actress gong for Monster’s Ball wearing one of his gowns.
He has also dressed - among others - Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
He released his first fragrance, Le Parfum, in 2011.
Today, Elie Saab is a truly global empire, with boutiques in Paris, London and Dubai. His clothes are on sale in 22 countries, and he has expanded his business into bags, shoes, fragrance and jewellery.
