Day 1: French chic meets Indian elegance
Dubai Fashion Fiesta 2007 opened on Thursday with shows by US-based French couturier Lloyd Klein and Indian design house Satya Paul. Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event drew a large audience of fashion lovers and buyers from major fashion houses in the region.
Klein's collection had the flamboyance and glamour one expects from a designer who is a favourite with stars such as Halle Berry, Renee Zellweger and Christina Aguilera. And his cuts, silhouettes and drapes were classic French. His show opened with a stunning set of white wide legged pants worn with an animal print corset under a luxurious fur jacket.
The theme continued with beige, grey, two-tone leopard print and sequinned pants coupled with corsets, a variety of smart jackets and fur stoles.
The designer's stylish flourishes included coloured stitching details, animal print lining and dramatic feathers on white
jackets, a blend of fitted and flowing silhouettes and interesting cuts on the cuffs and sleeves.
Signature style
In his signature style of combining masculine and feminine elements, Klein showcased a set of knee-length suede shorts paired with suede and leather jackets with epaulets on the shoulders and sheer chiffon stoles.
His gowns and skirts ranged from shimmering sequinned body hugging outfits in contrasting colours to soft flowing pleated Romanesque drapes in monotone brown
and black.
The striking accessories included feather chokers, leather bracelets and long chunky gold and feather necklaces.
The appearance of Cat woman Jocelyne Wildenstein on the ramp was a special surprise for the Dubai audience.
Stunning saris
Satya Paul is well known for their signature prints, but this time the design house surprised us with a stunning collection of embroidered saris. Titled Encarta, the collection included refreshing floral, untamed animal, classic arabesque and paisley and fancy abstract prints embellished with intricate gold and silver embroidery, sequins and beads.
The palette ranged from tea pink, blues, browns and reds to striking blends of orange and yellow, black and red, white and gold and black and silver. The embellishments ranged from heavy embroidery all over and delicate floral patterns to coloured trims and beaded borders. Sexy cholis added pizzaz to this beautiful collection displayed by a bevy of international models including former Miss India Sayali Bhagat.
Franck Provost did an excellent job with the dramatic make-up and hairstyles for Lloyd Klein as well as the more natural look for Satya Paul. The shows were choreographed by Rohit Verma and Mohammed Aslam and DJ Sash provided the music.
The designers
Trained as an architect, Lloyd Klein (below) presented his first women's couture collection in Paris in 1994. He honed his design skills as head designer for the legendary Maison Madame Gres. He launched his label in the US in 1999 and opened his US flagship store in Los Angeles last year. The designer soon plans to open his first store in this region in Dubai.
The Satya Paul design studio was established in India in 1995 and is known for its original prints and quality of fabrics.
The label's product line includes saris, bridal wear, fabrics, scarves and bags. The products are available through Satya
Paul salons and boutique stores around the world.
Did you know?
Falguni and Shane Peacock will soon open their own store in Dubai featuring their prêt, diffusion and couture lines as well
as their menswear collections.
Sa Soie fabrics are available at select textile stores around the UAE. The Sa Soie couture line is now available at their
franchise showroom on Corniche Road in Abu Dhabi. Sa Soie Fashion Houses will soon open in Dubai and Doha.
Day 2: A celebration
Indian designers Falguni and Shane Peacock and French label Sa Soie presented their collections to a full house on the second day of Dubai Fashion Fiesta 2007. Both collections featured natural fabrics and interesting prints.
The Peacock's showcased a range of corset, slip and tulip dresses, evening gowns and skirts of various lengths in their
signature mix of animal and floral prints. The palette ranged from black and white to bright blends of blue, pink and yellow.
Soft silks and chiffons, flowing silhouettes, bows on spaghetti straps and belts and lace trims gave the garments a feminine look.
The interesting embellishments included multicoloured leather and fabric sequins, fabric covered diamontes, bunches of fabric grapes, metallic flowers, buttons and hooks.
Passionate
Sa Soie, which is French for "silk for her" presented a collection that was a passionate celebration of silk. The French brand specialises in exclusive printed pure silk fabrics that are distributed in this region by Rajesh Trading Company.
The Dubai-based company has taken the initiative to introduce a line of couture garments crafted from these fabrics. The Sa Soie couture line is designed by a team of Middle Eastern designers and manufactured in Lebanon.
Their first show in Dubai presented a collection of exclusive "one-of-a-kind" pure silk gowns created with the fashionable
Arab woman in mind.
The garments combined plain and printed silk in a vibrant rainbow palette. A blend of fitted and flowing silhouettes, pleated, ruched and layered drapes, sheer see-through panels, Swarovski crystals, floral embroidery and sequins
created a chic and feminine look. The grand finale featured a beautiful white silk and chiffon wedding gown. Designer Noha Karam took the bow on behalf of the design team.
