Elie Saab Haute Couture S/S 2014

My fashion posts are normally limited to red carpets where I'm honestly a little more focussed on the film or event itself - the excellent fashion on display is merely a wonderful coincidence and it allows me to kill two birds with one stone by combining my interests. However, I adore everything about each fashion week and spend hours on the Vogue website obsessing over new looks from my favourite designers. Even though I don't normally blog about them, the recent Elie Saab collection from Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week was so beautiful I changed my mind and felt it merited a post.

I've only recently discovered Lebanese designer Elie Saab, but over the past two years I'm come to majorly covert his designs over any other fashion house. I'm not even ashamed to admit that it was Blair Waldorf's wedding dress in Gossip Girl that initially caught my eye. Blair's light blue floral appliqué gown was from the 2012 couture collection and completely perfect for the character, encapsulating old school glamour with modern high fashion. From that moment on I've been completely hooked.

(IMAGES SOURCED FROM www.graziadaily.co.uk)

In 1982 Elie Saab opened up his couture atelier in Beirut at the age of eighteen. Over the following years his reputation began to transcend Beirut's borders, with women all over the world coveting an Elie Saab dress. In 2000 he was invited by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture to show in Paris, where he presented four collections a year (haute couture and ready-to-wear). Six years later he became a corresponding member and in 2007 set up his flagship boutique in the heart of Le Triangle D'Or. Beirut remains his main inspiration and is the location of his main workshop, as well as his studio, ready to wear boutique and couture showroom. Quite frankly, the man is a genius.

(IMAGE SOURCED FROM www.eliesaab.com)

I'm yet to find a look I don't completely adore. Each and every design is the epitome of femininity, with stunningly intricate details and relatively conservative silhouettes that simply define sophistication.

His spring/summer 2014 couture collection was inspired by the work of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and featured the sort of romantic palette from soft pink through to black that could have been lifted from a nineteenth century canvas. The empire waists and gently draped volumes with floral embellishments and appliqué hinted at classical dress, creating a truly idyllic ambiance. Also, deviating from the norm Saab included pleated goddess gowns in amongst his signature designs, taking a risk with silhouettes that ultimately paid off.

(ALL IMAGES SOURCED FROM www.vogue.co.uk)

The collection culminated with an ethereal bride and giant train: a bold move considering Karl Lagerfield's marriage pose with Cara Delevingne at Chanel the day before.

My absolute favourite looks from the collection however, were the dégradé dresses that fell from black to pink or displayed smudged floral prints. I adored the contrast of the harsh black and the soft pastels, and would utterly love to see some of these designs on future red carpets.

Elie Saab remains the undisputed king of fairytale couture, with an outstanding attention to detail and ability to celebrate the female form in the classiest and most glamorous way. I still love the romanticism of an Oscar de la Renta gown, a classic Chanel or bold Raf Simons creation for Dior. I'm growing to appreciate the bold patterns of Peter Pilotto and am actually quite liking recent Zuhair Murad collections. However, nothing can compare to Elie Saab for me. I may sometimes sway towards preferring edgier looks, but when it comes down to it I can't resist a classic, beautiful and feminine design.

A part of me never grew up and still wants to be a princess, and even if that can't happen (although I'm still holding out for Prince Harry…) then one day being like Blair Waldorf and wearing Elie Saab on my wedding day is the perfect way to fulfil that dream.