Highlighting the Middle East as the Next Fashion Hub, Elie Saabs Show Merged Fashion, Entertainment, and Powerful Female Voices
All eyes were on Saudi Arabia as designer Elie Saab pulled off a remarkable display of fashion and entertainment to rival a Las Vegas residency, featuring power-packed performances from prominent global female artists and home-grown musicians. The show, which took place in Riyadh, revealed a number of surprises with the online speculation circulating some of the industries biggest names who were rumoured to appear. However, it was on the night – which showcased the feat of 300 exclusive couture looks integrated with live performances – that the crowds who had flown in from all over the world witnessed a one-of-a-kind fashion spectacular, with sets from Jennifer Lopez, Camila Cabello, the “Queen of Arab Pop” Nancy Ajram, Egyptian artist Amr Diab and, in only her second performance since returning to the stage, Celine Dion who closed the show to a standing ovation.
The show was inaugurated by the actress Halle Berry, who entered stage left wearing the burgundy Elie Saab gown she wore during her historic Oscar win 22 years ago, an event that propelled both Berry and Saab to critical acclaim. More than 1,000 guests watched as she opened the show and was overcome with emotion as she walked the immersive runway and acknowledged, once again, the significance of that Oscar night.
Jennifer Lopez put on a powerful performance after a challenging year marked by a breakup and a canceled world tour. Lopez, surrounded by a cloud of feathers, sang “I Will Survive” and followed it up with high-energy dance routines to her best-selling hits including “Waiting for Tonight,” “Let’s Get Loud,” and “On the Floor.”
Camila Cabello made an appearance amongst oversized flowers, signalling the section of the show which focussed on floral artistry as models were clad in blush and pink 3D flowers illustrating the warmth of a summer garden. The singer entertained the audience by altering a line in her chart-topping song “Havana” as an ode to the host country.
Celine Dion stole the show with her surprise performance, descending from a spiral staircase in an Elie Saab gold embroidered cape gown singing “The Power of Love.” Following this, she performed her hit “I’m Alive,” with the crowd erupting in applause for the singer. Post-show, an emotional Saab noted, “We have had long and deep relationships with Celine, with Jennifer, with everyone who performed tonight.”
Other notable appearances included supermodels Helena Christiansen, Adriana Lima, Alek Wek, Eva Herzigova, Jourdan Dunn and Mariacarla Boscono, and celebrity guests like Monica Bellucci and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Elie Saab Jr. emphasized that the event was about “celebrating the past, present and future of the brand.” He noted how special it was to see Berry in the dress from her Oscar win, adding, “The moment with Halle Berry was so special for us.” The designer also underscored the message he wanted to relay to his clientele: “You can wear your dress more than one time.”
The father-son duo had been heavily involved in the organisation of the event. “We were involved in all the details from A to Z.” The distinctive styling by Carine Roitfeld and choreography of Blanca Li, along with intricate stage settings, flawlessly stitched together the performances into a “1001 Arabian Nights” narrative.
The event added another feather in the cap of Saab’s 45-year legacy and emphasized Saudi Arabia’s increasing influence over the global fashion landscape. “I’m really so proud to share this experience tonight from my region. I want to show the world how much we love life and admire beauty here,” the designer stated.
Looking forward, Saab Jr. teased the brand’s vision of delivering transformative experiences integrated from haute couture to furniture. He said, “Hopefully there is much more to come.”
