Simply Abu Dhabi XXVII

1 2 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Francesco Scognamiglio After a grand show at the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris during the previous season, this year Francesco Scognamiglio, who has been accepted as guest by the Chambre Syndacale de la Haute Couture, decided not to show at Haute Couture week in favour of a more intimate presentation in Milan at his headquarters at via Girolamo Morone. The reason behind this decision, as the designer stated, is that he wanted to “concentrate more on couture’s real values: the personal relationship with my clients, who need privacy and attention; the unique creativity that goes into every outfit.” For this autumn/winter 2017/18 haute couture season, Scognamiglio was inspired by the Garden of Eden, as shown with a stunning photoshoot by Giampaolo Sgura with top model Hilary Rhoda. It is a tribute to beauty and craftsmanship, with cocoon-like coats embellished with post-avant- garde Chinese motifs or huge fox collars quilted with floral designs and embroidered with intricate embellishments or trimmed with organza. The collection featured striking cocktail dresses and long opulent evening gowns, but what surprised the most were the wedding dresses – three outfits out of the nine created for this couture collection. Scognamiglio bridal gowns are truly a triumph of shimmering crystals and exquisite lace.