A Look Back At Iconic Celebrity Looks Created By Arab Designers
The remarkable craftsmanship of Middle Eastern designers has never failed to serve up memorable looks that have marked the world of fashion. Here are 18 examples:
1. It would be a shame not to start off with this classic 2002 collaboration between and actress Halle Berry and international Lebanese designer Elie Saab which was championed by a stunning sheer burgundy gown embellished with hand-embroidery.
2. In 2015, recording artist Ciara hit the stage of the American Music Awards dressed in a sheer intricate black dress by Beirut-born designer Reem Akra who is primarily known for her breathtaking bridal collections:
3. Pop music icon Jennifer Lopez also sported a Reem Acra designer piece at the 2014 American Music Awards – a soft blush-pink abs-revealing spring dress with geometric cutouts:
4. Amongst Lady Gaga’s most iconic looks created by her favorite Tunisian couturier Azzedine Alaïa is this white bridal-like gown she wore to 87th Academy Awards in 2015:
5. During the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival, model Winnie Harlow had a princess moment thanks to celebrity-approved Lebanese designer Zuhair Mrad who dressed her in a shimmering sapphire blue gown with a low-V chest cut.
6. Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone also stunned a custom-made garment by Zuhair Murad Zuhair Murad at her wedding reception in 2018. The untraditional wedding dress was scarlet red and had a one-sided front trail:
7. Who can forget when Lebanese haute-couturier Nicolas Jebran dressed Queen B for the 2018 Grammys merging classiness with sassiness in an epic black velvet dress?!
8. Remember the Egyptian neon-style dress that singer Katy Perry rocked in her Dark Horse music video in 2014? It was also a Nicolas Jebran masterpiece!
9. American Idol alumni Katherine Mcphee stunned a George Chakra Swarovski crystal-adorned baby blue design at the 2018 Met Gala themed “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”:
10. Hannah Beachler walked away with the Best Production Oscar award for “Black Panther” in 2019 while rocking a flamboyant orange satin dress made by Syrian designer Rami El Ali:
11. During the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios in 2019, Beyonce glimmered in a golden sparkly gown custom-crafted by Kuwaiti designer Youssef Al Jasmi:
12. After hitting back at the designers who refused to dress her for the 2019 red carpet because of her 6/8 size, young singer Bebe Rexha nevertheless pulled up a winning tulle gown look created by Bahraini designer Shaima Al Mansoori:
13. With the help of talented Lebanese designer Rami Al Kadi, American model Kendall Jenner stunned the 2019 Oscars after-party with this head-turning black velvety lurex gown embellished with side crystal fringes. This has to be one of her boldest looks ever!
14. For her appearance at Cannes Film Festival 2019, Indian Hollywood star Priyanka Chopra chose to be dressed by Saudi designer Honayda Serafi’s label in white flattering corset, pleated trousers, and a one-shoulder cape:
15. Actor Billy Porter showed up to the 2020 Emmy Awards wearing a custom-made off-white suit. The sophisticated jacket and flare pants were designed and tailored by Saudi-born Mohammed Ashi’s ASHI Studio:
16. The same iconic duo impressed us once again in the 2021 Emmy’s with this dramatic black attire fusing big ruffles with long sleeves and an glamorous neck design:
17. In 2020, Syrian designer Reem Masri dressed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab in a statement pink gown subtly inscribed with Arabic calligraphy that translates to “We dared to dream and we will not regret dignity.”
18. Rapper Cardi B hosted the 2021 American Music Awards in a majestic violet velvet dress dripped with amethyst rhinestones from atelier Jean-Louis Sabaji:
