Paris Fashion Week Fall 2014 Catwalk & Front Row Favourites

Fall 2014 Paris Fashion Week is finally here!

Below, I have picked out my personal favourite front row and runway looks

feel free to share with me your thoughts and your favourite looks from the Fall '14 collections!

- Order in date of events not favourites

1. Atelier Versace 

Dress or trousers? Why not both!

Jennifer Lopez was spotted wearing this hybrid of a 'tress' front row of the first of the Haute Couture shows in Paris for Fashion Week. 

The singer stunned in this white strapless hybrid gown; the skirt-half of the dress is made out of white silky fabric, which attracts more attention to the trouser part, which had been embellished with intricate white sequins, making it the main feature of this new creation.

I love the striking white colour as I feel like it makes her complexion appear even more beautiful and the two gold straps on the hip add so much to this hybrid gown and I am all about gold and white!

The gold straps featured ultimately acted as the signature pieces for the collection. 

The only thing that I wasn't so keen on was the pocket on the dress side, but I couldn't even care less right now since I have been so blown away by this look.

I felt like the collection was simple, yet made a huge statement; through the bold colour palette and the styles.

Favourites from the collection:

2. Giambattista Valli

So this whole thing has me doubting my spelling abilities, but other than that, I am head over heals in love with this little number worn by Alexia Niedzielski. This beautifully crafted dress appears to have been covered by soft shades of blue pastel coloured embellishments; that differ in size and in shape, along with hints of purple and orange crystal-like embellishments, that give this dress the perfect spring hues. It almost reminds me of one of Zuhair Murad's designs from his Spring 14 Couture collection (or am I just reaching?)

The black tulle on the top and bottom further compliments this dress, making it the perfect length. It is definitely something that I could see myself wearing (if I could, that is), because as much as I love floor-grazing, train back gowns, my 5 foot and a half self has a hard time pulling them off, so I tend to settle for the shorter option.

The following was the only one that caught my attention in a positive light in this collection; it looks like it's come straight out of a fairy tale, all the way from the floral bodice to the puffed out, ball gown-like skirt and the white tulle. Perfect.

3. Ulyana Sergeenko's electrifying Fall 2014 collection began with a bang and a hint of geometry, as she looked back at Russia's revolutionary period through the setting and the looks - as much as was possible, as I did not see that link when it came to the silk and lace lingerie dresses and the full bustier gowns.
The two looks below were definitely my favourites from the whole collection; the perfectly crafted coat featuring delicate sequin embroideries on the collar and on the end of the sleeves, with the fur at the bottom and the black leather leotard with white and grey embellished detailing just make this whole collection for me.

 4. Elie Saab
Stars are bound to look good if they're wearing anything designed by Elie Saab, and spotted front row, was Lebanese singer Elissa, who traveled to Paris to show her support for the designer. She came out wearing this elegant white mini dress from Saab's Spring/Summer 2014 Ready-to-Wear collection that featured lace over a white under garment and 3/4 lace sleeves; without a shadow of a doubt a favourite of mine, minus the pockets!

Another look that I loved was Chinese actress, Helen Yao's, who wore this baby pink coloured knee-length dress with long sleeves from the designer's Ready-to-Wear Spring/Summer 2014 collection. The dress featured intricate pink embellishments all throughout and there's no denying that Elie Saab can make any woman look graceful.

Every season, I eagerly wait for the Elie Saab collection to hit the runway, and I have not been disappointed to date, making it difficult to choose a favourite, as he continues to make dresses fit for royalty through his distinctive designs, which seem to be typical of the him, yet he still manages to impress. All the way from the enchanting gradients and colour palette to the heavenly crafted intricate embroideries and embellishments with the cabochons, sequins and pearls to the fox fur add-ons.
Elie Saab simply cannot go wrong!

5. Zuhair Murad 
Fashion inspired by architecture? Recipe for perfection.
As per usual, I had the hardest time choosing a favourite out of a Zuhair Murad collection and I now almost feel like I should have made a separate post for this collection, alone. My expectations are always high when it comes to this designer, and he never fails to impress.
The designs are guaranteed to provide any woman wearing it with a tremendously feminine look through the styles and the colours, and that I feel is the main focus and the epitome of his designs in general. The pleat twists over the hip and the abstract webbed effect in crystal embellishment contributed a huge amount to the beauty of this collection, along with the monochrome opening looks and the majority of the colours included, except for the pink - it was a little too pink for my liking, quite an eyesore.

I feel like whatever comment I make regarding this collection will not do it enough justice as it very much speaks for itself and it speaks volumes, and the more I look at them the more I love them , so I'm just going to leave it at that...

Thank you for reading!

Image sources: Versace, Style, Elie Saab

Fashion at Jerash Festival 2014

Each year, people from all over the Middle East travel to Amman, Jordan, to witness some of the most prominent Arabic stars, as they bring life to the old city of Jarash - famous for its culture and art.

20/06: Lebanese singer Elissa was the first of the ladies, who's most commonly known for her mermerising voice and romantic blues-pop style. As for fashion, this lady did not quite hit the nail on the head this year. Colour-wise, I think it's always important and appropriate for the artists to wear metallic/sparkly dresses for festivals, to make them stand out on stage, and Elissa did just that with this golden dress. However, I did not feel like the length of the dress was appropriate for this event. 

 Floor-grazing maxi dresses and trails tend to make more of a statement.

The gold lame stretch dress was from Lanvin's Spring/Summer 2014 resort collection, the one-shouldered dress featured a 3/4 long sleeve and pleats from the top to the hips, where it then goes straight into a pencil skirt down to the knees. The diva paired this dress with Zanotti heels and a wavy do.

21st June was Shatha Hassoun's night. The Iraqi singer owned the stage with this Ready to Wear Oscar De La Renta ball gown - the dress is immediately made elegant with just the right amount of embroidered flowers, made from pink and lilac chiffon applique, and the lilac garment under the black ruched illusion tulle - making this a somewhat soft look with a dominating shape
The strapless gown also cinches in at the waist and then puffs out - the typical ballgown style dress - thus, highlighting the waist and making it appear smaller.
However, I do feel like the dress is very fairytale-like and better suited for a gala than a festival.

The fashion faux pas of all time goes to Diana Karazon for this disaster of a dress designed by Hussein Beetar.

The 26th was the night of the Diva that never fails to impress at the Jarash Festival; in length, sparkle, style, taste and stage presence: Lebanese songstress, Najwa Karam.
This beautifully crafted dress was designed by Zuhair Murad, from his Spring/Summer 2014 Haute Couture collection; Miss Karam has been wearing his creations for a long time now and I don't blame her! The strapless dress featured purple, yellow, gold and silver crystal embellishments on top of a nude base, the embellishments were bigger and more heavily concentrated towards the top and bottom, and the trumpet style of the dress gave her the perfect hour-glass finish - you really don't appreciate the perfection that is this dress until you zoom in
Utterly immaculate and easily my favourite!




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Share and comment your thoughts!

   

Najwa Karam USA Tour 2014

Najwa Karam's highly anticipated USA tour is finally here, and not just for the attendees; I had been waiting for so long to see what she'd be wearing, as it was previously postponed due to Najwa Karam's close family bereavement and the Arabs Got Talent live shows.

The first show of the tour took place in Cleveland; Miss Karam became the envy of all women as she came out wearing this beautiful, yellow floor length dress from Zuhair Murad's Spring/Summer 2014 Haute Couture collection. It has just the right amount of simplicity, and completely appropriate for the season.

The dress featured a high-collar at the front and a court opening on the back, and tiny embellished beads and sequins that end at the cinched waist. The bottom was a floor-grazing pleated skirt with a slight tail at the back.

Yellow is a colour that symbolises joy and delight, and Najwa Karam gives exactly that at practically every occasion.

The singer clearly took the belt out; which I feel may have taken the 'edge' slightly, as I thought the addition of the belts really made emphasis on the dresses and set them apart from other designer collections this season.

Next stop: Miami; Najwa Karam's favourite place in the USA, so expectation were high...

My very first impression was "Dior J'Adore advert" - I actually adore the perfume and the whole advert, to the point that if I ever see it playing on billboards/advertisements, I would sit through the whole thing - but when closely compared, I found there to be major differences in terms of style, and the more obvious similarities in terms of colour, silhouette and the gold Masai necklace.

However, I felt that the differences may have outweighed the similarities and the dress looked like a 'knock-off' from the famous Dior advertisement.

However finding the dress a little disappointing, I did like the illusion that it created with the gold necklace-like drapes at the front and the differing pattern on the sides, which helped to place emphasis on her thigh/hip area and consequently balancing out her figure.

The next concert took place in Detroit and this dress highlighted the 'high-collar' trend that were seen in the previous two.

 A trend that I am not fond of.

It really is hard to talk badly about a Najwa Karam dress, though is rear; for me, Najwa Karam is not solely defined by her mountainous voice and beauty that is present widely on the inside and out, but she is considered as a fashion icon and style inspiration for many. And this dress defined neither for me.

As this lady promotes positivity and love, I do not have it in my heart to criticise this dress further, as I feel no positivity nor love towards it.

And just as I was beginning to lose hope, Zuhair Murad came to the rescue.

This is a dress that she has previously worn at the Jarash Festival in Amman, but can we just talk about the waistline? YES

Read more about the dress here

New Jersey.

Por qué? (thank you Google translate)

I was contemplating whether to put this ruffled black and white skirt dress up or not because it makes my soul cry every time I looked at it, but I thought it made sense to put it up.

It felt like many pieces of fabric had been randomly put together; lacking any sense of style.

Having said that however, the only thing that attracted me was the embellished black detailing on the shoulder and if it were up to me, I'd have made the whole dress black and embellished, as the contrast on the top was too harsh for my liking. This combination just doesn't do it for, unfortunately.

For the 6th show in Boston, the Lebanese diva came out looking nothing less than divine in this Zuhair Murad gown from the designer's Spring/Summer 2014 Haute Couture collection, that featured subtle yet intricate pink embellishments, where each section differed in direction to elongate and provide the appearance of a flawless hour-glass figure. Enhancing her features and flaunting them beautifully. The exaggerated feather-like detailing on the bottom further contributed to this, and the colour very much complimented the spring season and her skin tone.
A dress fit for a goddess!

*lets out huge sigh of relief*
The dress she wore for the 7th show in Houston was unquestionably my favourite out of all the tour outfits. The dress featured a sabrina opening and a black strapless opening underneath, and I am completely in love with the beautiful contrast that was created through the use of the silver, glitter-like sequin detailing on the very top and the black sequins on top of the black satin, with slightly darker silver sequins that link the colours... In other words, this dress was completely flaw free!
The sequins become less concentrated and less glittery towards the bottom of the dress; putting all of the attention on the top half - where the pattern seems to be very structured and symmetrical.

I don't think I will ever get over this dress.

Last but certainly not least: LA!
The diva dazzled from head to toe in this Zuhair Murad Spring/Summer Haute Couture gown, the top half of the dress was originally a leotard from the collection, and the rest was custom made. Over the nude undergarment, the dress featured silver detailing that ran all the way through the dress, with the little multi-coloured sequins that were scattered and hugely complimented by the lights on stage. The dress also had a long-collar, which seemed a little too conserved for my liking, considering the long sleeves... until you look at the back, and then the whole dress is automatically made better.

Did Najwa hear my plea all the from the USA? Probably not, but I would like to think so.
For this look, she actually kept the Zuhair Murad belt and this immediately separates it from the average 'nude dress', and I am all for this!


It's safe to say that the stage is Najwa Karam's runway.




Source and more photos: Najwa Karam's Official Facebook page


PS. Najwa Karam give me all your dresses and your body to go with them! 
you can keep the New Jersey and Detroit dresses though, xo

Thank you for reading!
Share and comment your thoughts below...

Met Gala 2014 - Beyond Fashion

The Met Gala, formally called the Costume Institute Gala and also known as the Met Ball, is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. It also serves as an opening celebration for the institute's annual fashion exhibit*, where we get to see some of the most important celebrities on the red carpet, wearing something that would suit the chosen theme of the year.

After last year's Punk: Chaos to Couture, which I completely adored, this year's held the title of Charles James: Beyond Fashion, which as you can probably guess from the title, is dedicated to America's first couturier, Charles James, so obviously, bright colours and over-the-top gowns are expected. The guests can choose to follow the theme, or not.

As there were countless celebrities invited - considering this is probably one of the most important fashion events of the year, so naturally, the most important people are invited - I will be selecting only a few stars, and who better to start off with than Beyonce?

Nobody. So Beyonce it is! 

The Queen showed of her famous and fabulous curves in this sheer black beaded Givenchy couture gown, that featured a plunging neckline and a see-through underlining, accessorised with a black net headpiece by Givenchy, burgundy lipstick and chandelier earrings by Lorraine Schwartz. It is said that Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy drew inspiration from Diana Ross' 1970s glam/disco era for this look.

Beading was one of the many trends spotted on the red carpet at this year's Met Gala on various other celebrities such as Leighton Meester in Emilio Pucci and Blake Lively in custom Gucci. Blake Lively's Old Hollywood Glamour was definitely a winner, and in all aspects; the embroidered paillettes, the rose-gold colouring, the cinched straps, the cape/train... basically everything.

Old Hollywood Glamour at its finest!

The ever beautiful Fantastic Four actress wore a subtle gold lace v-neck custom made Diane Von Furstenberg gown that also featured cinched straps and a small tail. The top section highlighted her slim and slender figure ever so elegantly, but, I felt like the loose skirt did the exact opposite... Surprisingly, it remains flattering. 

Another trend: Plunging neck-lines; found in all of the above!

Moving away from the previous style above, this Barbarian beauty flaunted her perfect body in a two-piece Stella McCartney creation that featured a backless cropped top and a flowing skirt. Simple, yet stands out.

Following this trend were the likes of Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone, in Calvin Klein and Thakoon, respectively. I thought Hathaway's was far too simplistic, almost basic in a sense. There was nothing special about it and it did nothing for her. I wasn't a fan of Emma Stone's either, but the fun and flirty style ad the two tones of pink definitely suited her.

Other trends included princess, monochrome, floral dresses, etc.

Time to name and shame because the following dresses really irked my soul.

And in no particular order, Fashion Faux Pas Awards go to:

Shalein Woodley in Rodarte

Chloe Moretz

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Kate Upton in Dolce and Gabbana

Zoe Saldana in Michael Kors

Rita Ora

Greta Gerwig

Lily Allen

Rosamund Pike

I know this post is a few days late and I haven't posted in a long time but I'm writing this as a form of procrastination because I have exams!

Oh, it's the most wonderful time of the year!!! *side eyes*

Anyway, comment and share your thoughts in the comment section below and I'll be sure to read them - I just picked out a very few there, of course, there were more that I liked...

* Sources: Wikipedia, Getty Images

Fashion on New Year's Eve 2013

As every year comes to an end, I have been becoming increasingly eager to see what celebrities are going to be wearing for their New Year's Eve concerts.

Lebanese sweetheart, Najwa Karam amazed in a custom made silver embroidered and white embellished gown, with a nude under garment by Zuhair Murad in Dubai. The dress featured two embellished asymmetrical add-ons, one at the hip and the other at the chest, which accentuated her waist and highlighted her curves, providing a fierce and fiery look. 

Personally, I preferred her New Year's Eve concert looks from previous years more so than this.

Also choosing Zuhair Murad, was Haifa Wehbe, who dazzled in Beirut wearing a bronze-beaded Couture gown; featuring long-sleeves, a high neckline and an open back from the Fall 2013 Haute Couture Collection and in classic Haifa Wehbe style, the dress just covered enough to keep people guessing and the rest was see-through! Looking super good!

Opting for an Elie Saab gown, was Lebanese singer, Nawal Al Zoghbi, who chose an A-line chiffon dress from the Fall 2011 collection, the burgundy dress featured a spaghetti strap and was accessorised with a statement belt, which I guess was a good idea, considering it was a New Year's Eve party and the dress would have been too plain otherwise. Overall, I thought the look was rather mediocre.

Another dress which I thought was mediocre, was Nancy Ajram's, who wore a plain black gown with a laced sleeve detailing. Personally, I thought she may have merely chose the dress for the brand, as a popular star like her should've probably worn something that would make her stand out more, and especially on New Year's Eve. 

Singer and actor Cyrine Abdel Nour wore a green dress designed by Antoine Kareh. The dress featured three shades of green on the top, with what looks like a broken heart with a bandage over it and a thick and darker arrow-like shape on the waist, which makes it appear smaller, achieving the hourglass figure that every woman wants. The bottom part of the dress featured the lighter green, with a beaded gradient, which I completely loved.

So far, they've all chosen a Lebanese designer, and it doesn't just yet, as singer and TV presenter, Maya Diab wore a Nicolas Jibran dress, which isn't a surprise as they frequently collaborate and she has the figure to pull off his fierce and inventive designs, as she wore a long sleeved, glittering red dress for her New Year's Eve concert, the dress featured see-through sections... which was festive?

Last but not least was Elissa, who selected a black train back dress by Balmain. The dress had long sleeves and a halter neck, which draped off on the stomach area and is open in the middle. I'm not particularly a big fan of the drapes, but it hides the stomach area, which is always good! The singer has previously worn this dress at the BIAF Awards, and I don't blame her, she looks fantastic! 

What did you think of the dresses and who's was your favourite? Leave a comment and share! :)

Happy New Year everyone!

Beyoncé in Tom Ford at NY Album Screening

"I don't pop Molly, I rock Tom Ford"
The Diva, who surprised her 'Beyhydrated' fans on 'Beyoncé the 13th' with the release of her new, self-titled visual album on iTunes, containing 14 tracks and 17 accompanying music videos, had a screening of the highly-anticipated album at the School of Visual Arts Theatre in New York City on the 21st December.

Miss Third Ward looked completely flawless at the event, wearing a figure-hugging, mini, mosaic black dress, covered in broken-mirror-like appliqués by Tom Ford's Spring '14 Collection. It had long sleeves and a high neckline, completing the look with matching thigh-high boots, which is very appropriate for the season.

She looked like a superhero minus the cape!




What did you think of her look? Comment and share! :)

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/beyonce/id780330041

Photos: beyonce.com and http://instagram.com/beyonce

@raniatouza