Elie Saab

Elie Saab, nicknamed “precious genius”, is an exquisite Lebanese designer of women’s fashion. He was born on July 4th, 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon (TFMD1). He started to show interest in designing fashion by the age of six. Saab taught himself how to sew and design clothes, which led his parents to believe he would become a tailor. At the age of nine, he made clothes for his sisters and even sold garments to his neighbors. In 1981, he moved to Paris to study fashion (Fischbach1). A year later he opened his own studio to design elegant wedding and evening gowns. The Beirut culture is behind his main influence and reminded Saab to stay true to his native cultural trends that led to his style of blending Oriental with Western styles (TFMD1).

Under Saab’s own label, he debuted his first collection at Casino du Liban (Fischbach1). Making him known for his “dazzling clothing that is sexy yet classy” (Fischbach1). His collection brought an outstanding amount of attention that leads to the attraction of women in high society; including Princesses and Hollywood movie stars. These clients desired Saab’s creations because of his signature style of using luxurious fabrics, beading, lace, pearls, crystals, and detailed embroidery. His gowns have been described as having a “femininity and romanticism” theme (TFMD1). By 1990, his rapidly growing reputation and clientele called for a larger studio to be made to handle orders from Paris, Switzerland, and France (Fischbach1)(TFMD1).

Saab became a member of Camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana as their first non-Italian designer in 1997 (TFMD1). Later that same year in Rome at Roma Alta Moda, Saab showed first couture collection outside of Beirut (TFMD1). He started a ready-to-wear in Milan during 1998 (TFMD1). Following, Saab held a fashion show in Monaco, which Princess Stephanie attended (TFMD1). The next debut that Saab held was his general public collection known as Prêt-à-porter debut in Milan in 1998 (Fischbach1). At that...