Elie Saab is living La Dolce Vita for his latest resort collection. Citing Italian influences — from the statues of Lake Como’s Giardini Di Villa Melzi, to the 1950s films of Cinecittà to Paolo Sorrentino’s nostalgia-tinged “The Great Beauty” — Saab bathed this collection in gauzy light.
He looked to soft shades of cream, cappuccino, blush and rose for looks with subtle sparkle and classic shapes that speak to his eveningwear prowess. Monochrome dresses in classic shapes featured blown-up and bold hydrangea bloom print. Gardens continued to come into play with floral appliqués on the shoulder or hip on suits and shirts, and a gown featuring sequined layers created graphic petals.
Bold cocktail dresses appeared with a fun — and forgiving — swingy beaded overlay that demonstrated why he is a consistent red carpet favorite. A macramé dress had a subtle bell sleeve with billowing volume.
On the casual spectrum, Saab showed day looks in dark denim suits and peplum tops. Cotton featuring an abstract interpretation of the brand’s logo read as lace and was rendered into refined bikini tops and bombers. Saab has been increasingly integrating this branding into his work, and also brought it to accessories on bags and shoes.
Saab has also expanded his knitwear offerings and there was no shortage here, in soft sweater and skirt combos that have seen good success with clients, according to brand representatives, and can travel to colder climes during the resort season.
This all comes amidst the Saab brand extension and growth as he dives deeper into real estate and interior design, with over half a dozen projects across Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
He also has seasonal pop-ups in Saint Barts and Saint Tropez this summer, proving that the brand travels too.
