Hollywood star Eva Longoria stuns in Elie Saab at Hollywood luncheon

Hollywood star Eva Longoria stuns in Elie Saab at Hollywood luncheon
Eva Longoria accepted the Trailblazer 2023 award in Los Angeles wearing Lebanese label Elie Saab. (Getty Images)
Short Url
Updated 03 June 2023
Follow

Hollywood star Eva Longoria stuns in Elie Saab at Hollywood luncheon

Hollywood star Eva Longoria stuns in Elie Saab at Hollywood luncheon
  • The Lebanese couturier, most recently, designed Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein’s wedding gown

DUBAI: Hollywood star Eva Longoria, who accepted the Trailblazer 2023 award at a recent luncheon for notable members of the film industry in Los Angeles, looked elegant in a black number by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, who made headlines for dressing Jordan’s new Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein as she wed Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II.  

The second annual Raising Our Voices luncheon brought together the industry’s most influential executives, storytellers and thought leaders to focus on the state and future of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in Hollywood.




Hollywood star Eva Longoria, who accepted the Trailblazer 2023 award at a recent luncheon for notable members of the film industry in Los Angeles, looked elegant in a
black number by Lebanese designer Elie Saab. (AFP)

Acknowledging trailblazers that came before her like Ava DuVernay, Patty Jenkins and Patricia Riggen, Longoria said: “It shouldn’t be this hard, and sometimes I don’t like the word (‘trailblazer’) because I don’t understand why we can’t just use the other trails that have been there for so many other people. So, the fact that we still have to do this to me is crazy because clearing this path is exhausting and I feel like we deserve a clear path. Why is the path clear for some but not all?

“I personally want cleared paths to be paved with the stones of the successes of my sisters in this industry, so that the women that come behind us can just walk down this paved path,” she continued. “And so, for anyone in this room in a position of power, please give us the space to focus less on the fight and more on the purpose.”

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez called Longoria an “inspiration” after meeting her at Cannes in France.

Rodriguez uploaded the photo of her meeting with the actress on her Instagram story, captioning it: “My inspiration. The most beautiful of them all.”

Lebanese designer Saab has been at the center of global fashion this past week.

On Thursday, in Jordan’s biggest royal event in recent years, Crown Prince Hussein married the Saudi-born Princess Rajwa.

The bride, formerly Rajwa Al-Saif, wore a classic white gown by celebrity-loved Lebanese couturier Saab. The full-sleeved gown featured a dramatic veil that trailed for several meters behind her, while the neckline stood out for its chic draping.  

Meanwhile, the UK’s Kate, Princess of Wales was among the high-profile royal guests at the ceremony.

For the highly anticipated occasion, she wore an elegant Saab gown from the brand’s fall/winter 2017 couture collection.

The pastel piece featured a high neck, full bell-shaped sleeves, as well as embroidery and lace detailing.


Amina Muaddi, Yara Shahidi attend Dior show in Paris  

Amina Muaddi, Yara Shahidi attend Dior show in Paris  
Updated 8 sec ago
Follow

Amina Muaddi, Yara Shahidi attend Dior show in Paris  

Amina Muaddi, Yara Shahidi attend Dior show in Paris  

DUBAI: Romanian Jordanian footwear designer Amina Muaddi and part-Middle Eastern actress Yara Shahidi this week attended Dior’s star-studded fashion show – set in the Tuileries gardens – during Paris Fashion Week.  

Muaddi and Shahidi were dressed to impress.  

Muaddi wore a blue yoke-style skirt with a basic white t-shirt and her Dalida Glass PVC platform mules that elevated her look.  

Muaddi wore a blue yoke-style skirt with a basic white t-shirt. (Getty Images)

Shahidi added a pop of color to her look with a bright orange floor-length skirt. She wore a loose white blouse and a gold belt around her waist.  

The two stars sat front row as they watched Italian couturier Maria Grazia Chiuri present the brand’s Spring/Summer 2024 ready-to-wear collection.  

Chiuri crafted an unusually subtle collection in predominantly black and white that fused echoes of the medieval and contemporary, the Associated Press reported.  

Shahidi added a pop of color to her look with a bright orange floor-length skirt. (Getty Images)

Set against an art backdrop challenging time-worn perceptions on women’s roles, this show was not only a reminder that fashion is a mirror of society – but among her most accomplished so far. 

The atmosphere was charged with palpable anticipation. But even more electric was Chiuri’s dance between the medieval and the 80s punk – the former, an era of chivalry and legends, the latter, an age of defiant self-expression. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dior Official (@dior)

The first looks to grace the runway were what might be called “gamine gothic.” The garments, draped in a play of black with cascading tassels, bore dynamic clumps of silk that crafted a silhouette both historic and undeniably fresh.  

But fashion, much like history, is cyclical, and soon this dark romanticism gave way to stark white interpretations. The result? A nod to the rebellious 80s, evoking memories of punk rockers and their spirited defiance. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dior Official (@dior)

But Chiuri didn’t stop at mere clothing. The accessories — from contemporary neck chokers to sometimes-bejeweled leg bands that one might associate with armor — added layers of intrigue. 

While the designs borrowed elements from historical eras, they also encapsulated the spirit and journey of the contemporary woman. The ash and chamomile tones, paired with the evocative use of fabrics, served as metaphors for strength, defiance, and progression. 

The show witnessed a dazzling circus of stars including Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron, Elizabeth Debicki and Kim Jisoo. 


Carolina Herrera to show SS24 collection at Dubai Fashion Week  

Carolina Herrera to show SS24 collection at Dubai Fashion Week  
Updated 27 September 2023
Follow

Carolina Herrera to show SS24 collection at Dubai Fashion Week  

Carolina Herrera to show SS24 collection at Dubai Fashion Week  

DUBAI: New York-based luxury label Carolina Herrera will present its Spring/Summer 2024 collection at Dubai Fashion Week, organized by the Arab Fashion Council. 

Designed by creative director Wes Gordon, the show will be held on Oct. 9 at Dubai Design District.  

“We are thrilled to announce that Carolina Herrera is this season’s Guest of Honour to inaugurate Dubai Fashion Week SS24,” said Mohammed Aqra, chief strategy officer of the Arab Fashion Council. “Carolina Herrera’s unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with their unique DNA that has always been appreciated by our region, aligns perfectly with the spirit of Dubai Fashion Week. We anticipate that Herrera’s presentation will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the fashion landscape regionally and inspire aspiring designers and fashion enthusiasts alike.”

 


Saudi creatives team up with Adidas on new promotional campaign

Saudi creatives team up with Adidas on new promotional campaign
Updated 26 September 2023
Follow

Saudi creatives team up with Adidas on new promotional campaign

Saudi creatives team up with Adidas on new promotional campaign
  • Collaborators include filmmaker Ali Kalthami, artist Noura Bin Saidan

DUBAI: Saudi talent is once again at the forefront of global culture. Sportswear giant Adidas has just launched its new global brand platform featuring 17 creatives from the fields of food, fashion, art, music and film.

Titled “We Gave the World an Original, You Gave us a Thousand Back,” the campaign enlists several of the Kingdom’s brightest stars, including movie director Ali Kalthami, muralist Noura Bin Saidan and fashion designer Mohamad Bajbaa.

Kalthami’s debut feature film “Mandoob” received rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival and is set to open in theaters across the region in December.

His work with Adidas is his fist with a global fashion brand.

“I’ve been approached several times and I’ve always felt like it was the wrong moment and held myself back,” he told Arab News.

“I was conservative and didn’t want to show my face. Now, I’m hitting my 40s. On my last birthday I told myself to have more fun, and Adidas is such a fun brand to work with.

“Growing up in Riyadh, Adidas was always such a part of our everyday, even in our elementary school days. For me, it stands for being original and innovative, as well as healthy, and all of that is something that’s integral to my life and the lives of so many people here in Saudi Arabia. I didn’t ever expect this to happen, but I’m proud to be a part of it,” he added.

The campaign, held under the Adidas Originals imprint, centers on a number of the brand’s heritage sports shoes, including the Samba, Gazelle and Superstar. Adidas earlier teamed up with Dubai favorite Ravi Restaurant, founded by Chaudary Abdul Hameed, to produce a shoe based on its Superstar brand, which was a worldwide hit.

Saidan said sneakers had become an inadvertent extension of her art, as the pair she wore while making her creations had become splattered with paint.

“Shoes are part of my artwork,” she said. “Especially because every time I complete piece, my shoes transform and get stained as if I’m wearing different shoes.”


Princess Mashael Saud Al-Shalan to talk sustainability at XP Music Futures 2023 in Riyadh

Princess Mashael Saud Al-Shalan to talk sustainability at XP Music Futures 2023 in Riyadh
Updated 26 September 2023
Follow

Princess Mashael Saud Al-Shalan to talk sustainability at XP Music Futures 2023 in Riyadh

Princess Mashael Saud Al-Shalan to talk sustainability at XP Music Futures 2023 in Riyadh

DUBAI: Princess Mashael Saud Al-Shalan, the founding partner of Saudi think tank Aeon Strategy, will take part in MDLBEAST’s XP Music Futures 2023 conference in Riyadh.

The princess will join a session titled “Sustainable Futures: Music for Climate Action,” which will discuss sustainable event planning, carbon emissions balancing and the power of music to inspire environmental activity.

Her research mostly focuses on climate policy, global governance, carbon emissions and the impact of climate change. She has been involved in various international events and conferences, including side sessions at the UN Climate Change Conferences in Glasgow in 2021 and Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.

XP Music Futures is an annual music conference dedicated to accelerating the development of the music scene in the MENA region through various initiatives while creating opportunities for the global music community.

Past attendees include Mathew Knowles, Amy Thomson, David Guetta and Elyanna. This year’s conference runs from Dec. 7-9.
 


Baz Luhrmann to head Red Sea Film Festival jury

Baz Luhrmann to head Red Sea Film Festival jury
Updated 26 September 2023
Follow

Baz Luhrmann to head Red Sea Film Festival jury

Baz Luhrmann to head Red Sea Film Festival jury

DUBAI: Australian director Baz Luhrmann has been chosen to preside over the Red Sea International Film Festival’s features competition jury this year, organizers announced on Tuesday. 

The third edition of the Saudi festival is set to take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9 in Jeddah. 

Luhrmann will head the jury that will be bestowing awards to a competition of 17 titles from filmmakers from the Arab world, Asia and Africa.

Mohammed Al-Turki, the festival’s CEO, said in a statement: “As we work towards our third edition, we are delighted to welcome legendary award-winning director Baz Luhrmann as the head of the jury.” 

Luhrmann said: “As a child in the local cinema that we ran near the tiny country town where I grew up, I was mesmerized by the powerful historical and physical landscapes of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. 

“Since that time, I have had an abiding passion for the Arabian world, but after visiting Saudi Arabia, I felt truly inspired by the remarkable young filmmaking talent coming up across the region and to see how they are now capturing the attention of the global film community.” 

The Academy Award-nominated auteur is known for being a master storyteller across film, opera, theater and music, as well as his critically acclaimed filmography, including double Academy Award-winning “The Great Gatsby,” “Strictly Ballroom,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Elvis” and “Australia.”