Simply Abu Dhabi XXVII

Zuhair Murad Zuhair Murad pays homage to the Gibson girl –the personification of the feminine ideal of physical attractiveness as portrayed by the pen-and-ink illustrations of artist Charles Dana Gibson during a 20-year period that spanned the late 19th and early 20th century in the US and Canada. Murad’s collection is a mix and match between bold and feminine, opulence and simplicity, classicism and avant-garde. At the opening of the show the supermodel and fashion it-girl Sara Sampaio dazzled with her short dress with pleated ostrich feathers. Next came ball gowns, jumpsuits and dreamy dresses as a tribute to the young, modern woman, full of contrasts but at the same time true to herself and ready to fulfil her dreams. Another key theme of the collection is the game between strength and delicacy. A sheath dress comes with a trail, a bodysuit is contrasted with a cape, and ample floor- length skirts are teamed with plunging backlines. Feathers, fringes, luxurious and opulent embroidery, delicate velvet, silk and lace combine in a true vision for a couture enthusiast, in which it was easy to admire the craftsmanship and the intricate details in each Zuhair Murad creation. Everything is handmade and one-of-a-kind. The bride’s ivory gown is a breathtaking example of haute couture, majestic and delicate at the same time. The collection also gave references to the Art Nouveau movement and its glorious times, recalled by boleros, flounced midi- skirts and boyish trousers. The woman depicted by Zuhair Murad is tall, beautiful and self-confident, a model also influenced by the Edwardian era with subdued details and modern attitude. 1 1 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I