Elie Saab Fall 2011 Couture

Elie Saab has clearly established itself as a red carpet label, which means that every season, you can be sure to see gorgeous gown after gorgeous gown.  However, when it comes down to it, that's really all Elie Saab is: gorgeous gown after gorgeous gown.  It can become, quite honestly, boring and uninspiring.  The world has enough red carpet events, and in the end, the runway is for fashion.  I initially loved Elie Saab for its gowns, but after several seasons, I felt like I was watching Elie Saab shows on repeat.  So Elie Saab's Fall 2011 couture collection was like a breath of fresh air.  Icy cold fresh air, to be exact.  It was red carpet ready, yes; but there was just enough lightness, a sense of creativity, and a mastery of embellishment to satisfy the fashion crowd.  Saab first started with beautiful icy blue, with crystalline sparkle to match:

Then, with Karlie Kloss sauntering out in a whisper-thin cape, thus began the procession of virginal white gowns, some embellished within an inch of their life.

As evening rolls around, the colour darkens to tan, then to brown.  Despite the heavy embellishment, the dresses are surprisingly light and diaphanous.

Finally, at nightfall, dresses turn navy blue, with the very last dress a stunning wedding gown in arctic blue.  It was so delicately dusted with crystals, that it looked as if the crystals were cascading down the dress.

I've wanted to review Elie Saab collections in the past, but I never felt that any of the past collections were as special as this one.  This collection is the best of both worlds: merging red carpet desires with fashion expertise.

Watch the entire show here.

Image Source: Style.com