You might know Elie Saab, but you’re guaranteed to recognize his whimsical couture gowns. The Lebanese designer began his career specializing in bridalwear before branching out to build a fashion empire that includes fragrances, childrenswear, and interiors.
While Elie Saab dominates the world of haute couture, the brand’s feminine aesthetic has won its generations of followers. Once upon a time, every bride wanted to be dressed by Vera Wang. Today’s brides have their sights set on Elie Saab.
Elie Saab began his career specializing in bridalwear before branching out to build a fashion empire (Credit: Laurent Zabulon / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
Elie Saab is the designer who put Arab fashion on the international stage, styling everyone from the Princess of Wales to Queen Rania of Jordan and Hollywood’s brightest stars.
We’re deep diving into the world of this luxury Lebanese brand, answering the most popular questions about Elie Saab.
Who is Elie Saab?
Elie Saab is a Lebanese fashion designer who launched his eponymous brand in the 1980s in Beirut after a short time studying in Paris. His early collections focused on bridal couture, building the feminine and whimsical aesthetic that the brand is known for today.
Saab found instant success with a team of 15 working for his brand in 1982 when he was only 18 years old. Early collections focused on bridal attire.
What made Elie Saab successful was his ability to fuse Arabic and Western influences with a unique approach to ready-to-wear that focused on putting women at the center of the design.
Elie Saab launched his eponymous brand in 1982 in Beirut when he was 18 (Credit: Ammar Abd Rabbo / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
Elie Saab has said that women are his inspiration, telling Vogue Arabia, “I believe that every woman has her own character, and that should be highlighted in the dress she wears.”
In 1997, Elie Saab made history by becoming the first non-Italian designer to be admitted into the National Chamber of Italian Fashion.
Saab’s opulent and ultra-feminine dresses are everywhere you look on social media, gracing the bodies of some of the most photographed women in the world. Few Arabian brands have found as much success in luxury fashion as Elie Saab.
Elie Saab’s ultra-feminine designs are worn by many prominent figures in the industry, as well as social media personalities
Fashion isn’t the only thing that Elie Saab is designing. He announced in 2019 that he was stepping into the world of interior design, working on a luxury beachfront property in a gated community in Dubai.
This project is part of a partnership with Emaar, a luxury real estate company, and includes cafes, galleries, and boutique fashion stores incorporating the ‘Saab edit.’
Aside from fashion, Elie Saab has branched out into the world of interior design, offering various collections for home and office (Credit: Elie Saab Maison)
How Elie Saab Became Famous
Elie Saab is famous for being the first Lebanese designer admitted to the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, the fashion industry’s governing body.
The brand first entered the mainstream after Saab became the first Lebanese designer to dress an Oscar winner after styling Halle Berry for the 2002 ceremony.
Saab also designed several outfits for Beyoncé’s 2007 The Beyonce Experience concert tour alongside other designers.
Halle Berry wearing Elie Saab at the 2002 Academy Awards, where she won Best Actress for Monster’s Ball (Credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock)
He grew his personal profile by appearing on Project Runway: Middle East as a judge in 2016. Saab has become synonymous with Middle Eastern royals, but the designer’s influence is increasingly appearing amongst European royals.
The brand got a British royal seal of approval when the Princess of Wales, then the Duchess of Cambridge, wore an Elie Saab dress to Royal Ascot in 2019.
Elie Saab has developed a close relationship with several European royal families, becoming the go-to designer for formal gowns and bridal attire.
Countess Stephanie and Princess Claire of Luxembourg in Elie Saab wedding dresses (Credit: INFphoto)
Queen Rania of Jordan wore an Elie Saab dress in 1999 for her enthronement, while Countess Stephanie and the Princess Claire of Luxembourg both wore Elie Saab dresses for their weddings.
Other celebrity fans of Elie Saab include Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, Nicole Kidman, and Helen Mirren. Chances are you’ve seen a photo of one of these celebrities wearing a flowing, ultra-feminine Elie Saab dress.
Taylor Swift, Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, and Helen Mirren wearing Elie Saab heels and dresses (Credit: INFphoto / ACE)
What is Elie Saab Known For?
Elie Saab is known for its whimsical bridalwear and hyper-feminine haute couture dresses. The brand is synonymous with its use of lace, Swarovski crystals, detailed embroidery, and gemstones.
He made headlines in 1999 when one of his emerald and diamond dresses reportedly sold for $2.4 million.
Elie Saab is known for its feminine designs and use of lace, Swarovski crystals, detailed embroidery, and gemstones
Ownership of Elie Saab
What makes it unique is that Elie Saab continues to be a family-owned business, with Saab himself at the head of it. Elie Saab’s son, Elie Saab Jr, became brand director in 2013.
Elie Saab remains a family-owned business, with Elie Saab as the head and his son Elie Saab Jr. as the brand director (Credit: Abaca / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
In 2021, Elie Saab signed a perfume and cosmetics licensing agreement with Brands Beyond Beauty. It also partnered with Amazon in December 2020 to expand its US presence.
Where to Find Elie Saab Stores
Elie Saab is primarily available through luxury boutiques and retailers. The brand has a small number of stand-alone stores, including a flagship on Madison Avenue and boutiques in Paris, Mayfair, and Manhattan. Elie Saab is available in over 160 retailers internationally.
You’ll also find Elie Saab products and ready-to-wear collections available from several e-commerce stockists, including Farfetch, Mytheresa, and Net-a-Porter.
How to Pronounce Elie Saab
Although Elie Saab is a Lebanese designer, the name is easy to pronounce. The pronunciation for Elie Saab is “ee-lee sahb.”
Elie Saab is a Lebanese designer, and his main workshop is located in Lebanon, with additional workshops in Milan and Paris (Credit: Laurent Zabulon / ABACA / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
Where Are Elie Saab Products Made?
Elie Saab is an eponymous fashion brand that has stayed true to its Lebanese roots.
The brand’s ready-to-wear collections are manufactured in Lebanon and Italy. Elie Saab designs and manufactures most of its clothes in Lebanon, with only specialist work occurring in Italy.
How Expensive is Elie Saab?
You can expect to pay a pretty penny for a dress from an opulent brand like Elie Saab. It’s easy to think of Elie Saab as the modern fairytale godmother, giving brides their Cinderella moment.
An Elie Saab wedding dress can range from $8,000 to over $26,000. The cost of an Elie Saab dress will depend on the materials used, as the brand is famous for using Swarovski crystals, silk, and luxury embellishments.
Depending on the design and material, Elie Saab dresses can range from $1,085 to $26,000
Elie Saab dresses are designed for the modern woman, welcoming them to embrace femininity through natural silhouettes. The brand’s ready-to-wear collection ranges from $1,085 to almost $8,000 for runway pieces.
Step into your own fairy tale and follow in the footsteps of real-life royalty with your own Elie Saab dress.
Elie Saab Facts
| Who is Elie Saab? | He is a Lebanese fashion designer who was born on July 4, 1964, in Damour, Lebanon. His main workshop is in Lebanon, with additional workshops in Milan and Paris. Known for his dramatic, embroidered gowns, he started his business in the early 1980s and specialized in bridal couture (expensive fabrics, lace, gemstones, Swarovski crystals, pearls, detailed embroidery, etc.). |
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| How to pronounce Elie Saab | It's not pronounced Eh-lee Sob but Ee-lee sahb (as in, “I’d like the Spicy Crunch Roll, hold the Eel, please.”) |
| How much is an Elie Saab wedding dress? | Most Elie Saab wedding dresses range from $5,000 to $20,000. |
| Where to buy Elie Saab | In addition to luxury department stores, you can purchase Elie Saab at Farfetch and Mytheresa |
| Is Elie Saab married? | Yes, he married his wife, Claudine, in 1990. Together, they have three sons. |
| How much is Elie Saab worth? | The famous designer has an approximate net worth of $200 million. |
| Where does Elie Saab live? | He lives in Beirut, but also divides his time between Paris and Geneva, where his Lebanese wife and their children spend most of their time. |