Christmas Rêverie 20 Haute Couture dresses to get you into the Christmas mood
Diala Aschkar, Art Director at Orient Palms, France

Christmas Rêverie

20 Haute Couture dresses to get you into the Christmas mood

I selected 20 gowns from the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2016-2017 collections of Elie Saab, Zuhair Murad, Georges Hobeika, Ralf & Russo and Guo Pei, 20 exceptional gowns to inspire us and get us into the Christmas spirit, with their magical birds and feathers, flowers and foliage, dragons and flamingos.

T.S. Elliot’s poem “The Cultivation of Christmas Trees” explains this need to escape into a world of magic and wonder. These gowns produce the same "glittering rapture, the amazement" that a child feels when looking at a decorated Christmas tree. We long for the “reverence and the gaiety” of childhood to remain, soothing "the bored habituation, the fatigue, the tedium". Christmas festivities symbolize hope and new beginnings.

What does it feel like to be dressed by a whirlwind of flying birds in cobalt blue, to be enveloped by a transparent canvas for a vegetal pattern to be laid on ? Elie Saab’s two ethereal poetic visions exude sensuality with their single long sleeved design and revealing transparency. The visual movement is anchored on the shoulder by a brooch of birds in sequins.

Elie Saab presents a modern Christmas winter garden; the blossoming of multicolored flowers in feathers and crystals is extended with embroidered flower motifs lines, creating a "multi mediums painting" dress.

  • The image features a model walking down a runway, showcasing an elegant gown adorned with intricate floral patterns in a variety of colors, including pink, blue, and cream. The dress has a fitted bodice and a full, flowing skirt made of delicate fabric. The model's hair is styled elegantly, and she has a polished makeup look, with bold red lips. The audience in the background is blurred, focusing attention on the stunning dress and the model. The atmosphere is glamorous and high-fashion, typical of a runway show.
    ©PixelFormula
  • The image features a model walking down the runway during a fashion show. She is wearing a dress adorned with intricate floral designs in shades of blue, pink, and white. The dress has a sheer quality, revealing some skin beneath, and is cinched at the waist with a black belt. The model has a confident expression, complemented by bold red lipstick and elegantly styled hair. The setting appears to be a stylish fashion event, with blurred figures in the background.
    ©PixelFormula

The mother and daughter pairing in long silk guipure dresses with organza embellishments adds to the splendor of New Yorkish balls, the main theme of Elie Saab’s collection.

  • The image features a runway scene from a fashion show. In the foreground, a model and a young girl walk together. The model wears an elegant, floor-length gown in a soft nude shade, adorned with intricate silver embroidery and three-dimensional floral embellishments. She has her hair styled elegantly and is showcasing a bold red lip color. The little girl next to her is also dressed in a matching dress, featuring similar design elements, creating a coordinated look. The background is filled with an audience observing the runway, adding to the glamorous atmosphere of the event.
    ©PixelFormula
  • The image depicts a fashion runway scene featuring two models: an adult woman and a young girl. The woman is wearing a stunning, intricately designed gown that is adorned with gold embellishments and features sheer elements. The gown has a flowing silhouette with elegant draping. The young girl, who is beside her, is dressed in a matching dress that also features similar ornate details, creating a harmonious look between the two. The setting appears to be a sophisticated fashion show, with an audience visible in the background. The overall ambiance is glamorous and showcases high fashion.
    ©PixelFormula

Birds and feathers embroidered with black and gold silk threads, sequins and crystals seem like flaunting in the air with this Elie Saab long split dress.

The image depicts a model walking down the runway wearing a stunning evening gown. The dress features intricate gold embroidery that resembles flowing feathers, adding a touch of elegance and movement. The gown has a deep slit on one side and a fitted bodice that contrasts with the voluminous skirt. The model's hair is styled sleekly, and she wears dramatic earrings, enhancing the glamorous look. In the background, the audience is visible, with some applauding and others watching attentively. The overall ambiance suggests a high-fashion event.
©PixelFormula

The ostrich feathers embellishing these jasmine white tulle dresses and guipures recreate old Hollywood glamour.

  • The image depicts a model walking down a runway wearing an elaborate, glamorous gown. The dress is made of sheer fabric adorned with intricate beadwork and sequins, creating a shimmering effect. It features one long, flowing sleeve and a dramatic feather detail on the opposite shoulder. The gown is form-fitting and showcases a high slit, adding a sensual element to the elegant design. The model has styled hair and bold makeup, which enhances the overall high-fashion aesthetic of the scene, set against a backdrop of an audience and opulent decor.
    ©PixelFormula
  • The image depicts a model walking down a runway wearing a stunning evening gown. The dress is characterized by its intricate design, featuring elaborate feather-like embellishments and a mix of textures. It has a one-shoulder silhouette that adds elegance, and the fabric appears to be adorned with sequins or sparkling elements, enhancing its glamour. The background features a crowd of spectators, highlighting the glamorous atmosphere of a fashion show. The overall look exudes sophistication and high fashion.
    ©PixelFormula

Georges Hobeika’s cascading golden flowers are well balanced with the silvery branchs.

We can almost smell the verdant odor of the tree when looking at Georges Hobeika’s magnificent emerald green dress with rich foliage covering a nude tulle top.

  • The image depicts a model walking down a runway, showcasing an elegant evening gown. The dress features intricate embroidery, with a detailed design around the bodice and flowing into a floor-length skirt adorned with floral patterns. The gown is primarily a deep teal color, complemented by shades of silver and white in the embroidery. The model's hair is styled elegantly, and she carries a sophisticated demeanor as she poses in front of an audience seated in a fashion show setting. The background includes other attendees, adding to the glamorous atmosphere of the event.
    ©PixelFormula
  • The image features a close-up of a beautifully designed gown with intricate floral embroidery in various colors, predominantly in shades of blue. The dress has a layered, flowing skirt adorned with delicate details and embellishments. The model's arm showcases several pieces of striking jewelry, including an ornate bracelet and rings that add elegance to the overall look. In the background, there is another individual partially visible, possibly engaged in a different activity. The setting appears to have a sophisticated, fashion-focused atmosphere.
    ©PixelFormula

Georges Hobeika’s collection felt like walking in a Christmas forest haloed in gold and vivid colors.

  • The image features a model walking down the runway, showcasing an elegant gown. The dress has a fitted bodice with a sheer, embellished overlay that features intricate designs and beading. The skirt flows gracefully to the floor, and the color is a deep teal. The setting appears to be a fashion show, with an audience visible in the background seated on either side of the runway, observing the presentation. The overall atmosphere is sophisticated and glamorous, highlighting the artistry of fashion design.
    ©PixelFormula
  • The image features a group of models in an elegantly decorated room, possibly backstage at a fashion show. They are wearing beautiful dresses embellished with floral patterns and intricate designs. The dresses come in rich colors, primarily purple, with some featuring detailed embroidery and decorations. The atmosphere appears poised and sophisticated, with soft lighting and ornate decorations in the background. The models have different hairstyles and are positioned in a way that emphasizes the stunning garments they are wearing.
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Two siren dresses for two different styles; on the left a rich and dense foliage for a baroque feel and on the right lotus flowers dotting a lace dress inspiring gaiety and cheerfulness.

  • The image features a model walking down a runway in a glamorous setting, showcasing a stunning gown. The dress is intricately designed, adorned with vibrant embroidery of flowers and other patterns, primarily in shades of pink and purple. The gown has a fitted silhouette that flares slightly at the bottom, creating an elegant look. The model exudes confidence as she walks, and the audience in the background appears engaged, enjoying the fashion show. The overall atmosphere is one of high fashion and sophistication.
    ©PixelFormula
  • The image features a model walking down a runway, showcasing an elegant gown adorned with intricate floral embroidery. The dress, which is form-fitting and sheer, features a variety of purple flowers against a nude background. The model has her hair styled sleekly, and she carries a matching clutch. The audience in the background is composed of people attentively watching the show, some taking photos with their phones. The setting appears to be a fashion event, characterized by its sophisticated atmosphere.
    ©PixelFormula

This intricately beaded golden dress displays a magnificent flower bouquet that springs from the bottom of the skirt. Little details add to the preciousness and sophistication of the look: ribbons on sleeves, beads as necklace and delicate hems cut in zigzags.

  • The image features a model walking down a runway during a fashion show. She is wearing an intricately designed dress adorned with floral embroidery, featuring a mix of pink and purple hues. The dress is fitted and has long sleeves, emphasizing elegance and sophistication. The model is also carrying a small, stylish bag and is wearing matching accessories. The background shows an audience seated and enjoying the presentation, creating an atmosphere of glamour and high fashion.
    ©PixelFormula
  • The image shows a close-up of a hand holding a decorative clutch bag. The person is wearing a beautifully embellished dress adorned with intricate beadwork and floral patterns. The dress features a mix of colors, including gold, pink, and other vibrant hues. The hand is accessorized with a striking ring that resembles a star or spiky design. The overall look is elegant and sophisticated, showcasing a blend of high fashion and artistry.
    ©PixelFormula

Ralph & Russo powdery pastels of pink, nude and blue create a soft enchanted realm. The silk organza gown with an autumnal print on the left is appliquéd with metallic cut-out flowers and butterflies, whereas the sky blue gown on the right is appliquéd with silk tulle ruffles and embellished with glass beads and gold feather thread-work.

The Chinese designer Guo Pei presents maximalist glamor inspired by mythical creatures. Incandescent cascading gold metals create the look of a futuristic empress. The gown on the right has a dragon perched on the shoulder like a protective deity, rising from the intricate copper mesh of the bodice.

Luau green fits very well the Christmas mood at Zuhair Murad. A climbing foliage of embroideries set gracefully on the bodice like a Winter garden. Violet flamingos and foliage embroideries on a lace bohemian gown propel us into a world of fantasy.