Paris Haute Couture Week wrapped up last week in Paris and showcased the Fall/Winter 2014 – 2015 collections by the crème de la crème from the Parisian fashion scene. I am a great admirer of Lebanese designers and my favorite designers showcasing during Paris Haute Couture Week were Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab. A variety of designs appeared on the runway, some fit for romantic fairytale weddings, others fierce, red carpet looks fit for glamorous Hollywood women. Another Lebanese designer who appeared in the online headlines last week was Charbel Zoe who has designed sexy stage costumes for Jennifer Lopez and Shakira for their World Cup Football 2014 performances.
Highlight: last week Lebanese designer Rami Kadi had us women jumping for joy with the launch of his FW-15 couture collection “Un Souffle d’Orient”.
Un Souffle d’Orient
Rami Kadi has raised the bar for his new collection Un Souffle d’Orient which he launched in Paris, France this July. We know Rami Kadi for his ability to bring fairytales to life by creating breathtaking gowns that ooze opulence and romance. This time Rami has gone back to his roots by focusing on Arab architecture as the inspiration for his collection. It is like stepping into the Al Hambra palace in Granada, Spain known for its breathtaking Islamic architecture. Brightly colored arabesque decorations and geometric shapes take center stage. Rami’s collection is a modern-day interpretation of Arab architecture incorporated into haute couture gowns.
Kadi’s signature silhouettes are as feminine, fierce and sexy as always. He has used expensive, winter fabrics for this couture collection like leather and fur. The color palette is vivid and suits the fall/winter season perfectly; aquamarine, brick red, okra, black and white. The oriental theme of this collection is magnifique, Rami is mixing contemporary style with Arab cultural heritage. A lot of western designers have been using oriental designs in the past, but little to no oriental designers have been proudly promoting hybrid fashion like Rami Kadi has with this collection.
Collection favorites
I’ve added 5 of my favorite designs, from the 26 looks Rami has designed for this collection, to the gallery. I love the floor length gowns with bright Arab prints, the silk fabric is beautifully draped and the strapless detail looks fierce and young. The hand embroidered dress with pearl mink fur is my top favorite. The embroidered detail in red and aquamarine is stunning, the mink fur skirt really suits the winter theme. I can see myself wearing this gown to a fancy dinner and on my way there, I would be walking outside…soft snow dancing in the sky…the Eiffel tower lights glittering in the background…I’m already getting carried away into my high fashion daydream! The other two gowns in black and red are gowns fit for a red carpet. The black gown with long sleeves and sheer fabric is something a woman like Angelina Jolie would wear to an award gala. Oriental chic!
Make sure you check out the entire collection on rami-kadi.com
Photography by Odette Kahwagi