Elie Saab Silk Blue Strapless Dress, SS 2008

From his humble beginnings as a self-taught designer in war-torn Lebanon, Elie Saab has grown his fashion label into a global empire. Saab’s haute couture, ready-to-wear and bridal collections — as well as his fragrances, jewelry and home furnishings — are found in more than 160 locations worldwide, and vintage Elie Saab dresses and gowns are fashion favorites all over the globe.

Saab was born in 1964 in Damour, a coastal suburb of Beirut. At the age of nine, he taught himself how to sew, making clothing for his sister out of scraps of material he would find in his mother’s closet. Aside from spending one year attending a fashion school in Paris, Saab has no formal education in design. However, his innate talents soon caught the eye of Lebanon’s fashion elite.

In 1982, aged only 18, Saab opened a dressmaking studio in Beirut, employing 15 workers to create his bridal couture designs. That same year, he made his fashion debut with his elaborate wedding dresses featuring high-quality silks and lace, detailed embroidery and pearl and crystal embellishments. Despite his young age and a raging war in Lebanon, Saab’s reputation as a leading bridalwear designer soared.

In the 1990s, Saab focused on expanding his designs to include evening gowns and day dresses. His approach to fashion — a combination of Middle Eastern ornamentation with Western silhouettes — was fresh and unique, garnering serious interest among Europe’s most acclaimed fashion organizations. 

In 1997, the prestigious Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana invited Saab to show in Rome, and he became the organization’s first non-Italian member. In 2000, he was asked to present in Paris by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Coutre of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode — in 2006, he became their first Arab member.

Throughout his career, Saab has dressed and continues to dress the world’s most renowned celebrities and royalty. In 1999, Queen Rania of Jordan chose an Elie Saab design to wear to her husband’s coronation. In 2002, Halle Berry dressed in a floral and burgundy Elie Saab gown at the Academy Awards, where she won the Oscar for best actress. Saab’s clothes, shoes and handbags are also frequently worn by such stars as Angelina Jolie, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, to name a few. 

Saab’s fashion house continues to grow and evolve. In 2011, he launched his debut fragrance, Le Parfum, and in 2019, he started a home collection, collaborating with Italian designer Carlo Colombo on Art Deco–inspired tables, armchairs and other furniture.

On 1stDibs, discover a range of Elie Saab clothing, furniture and jewelry.