Lebanese couturier Elie Saab has revealed plans for mega show during Riyadh Season, a major series of cultural and entertainment events including sport, music, cinema and fashion held in the Saudi Capital.

It is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 13,  at 8:00 p.m. in The Venue, a new multi-functional concert and exhibition space one hour’s drive from central Riyadh. The Venue was recently the location of this year’s 6 Kings Slam, a tennis tournament that included Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, and was won by Jannik Sinner.
 
Entitled ‘The 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab’, it will be a 90-minute event centered around an haute couture fashion show combined with a Hollywood film premiere, all imbued with the essence of Riyadh. Saab promises that the show will feature a brand-new collection, designed exclusively for this event, to celebrate his remarkable 45- year career.

“Drawing inspiration from One Thousand and One Nights, the collection will reinterpret the classic tales through a modern, luxurious lens,” Elie explained in a release.
 
Adding a dash of creative edge, uber stylist and former French Vogue editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld will style the show, to add “contemporary flair to the presentation, complementing Saab’s timeless elegance.”
 
Once known as the high priestess of Porno Chic, Roitfeld’s styling will mark a significant step away from the restrained aesthetic of Saudi fashion.
 
In another avant garde move, Saab has called upon Blanca Li – the Spanish-born, hip hop-influenced and Paris-based dancer and choreographer – to stage a performance – intended to blend movement, music, and couture harmoniously. 
 
The soirée will begin with a red-carpet arrival, followed by this exceptional fashion display, broken into several scenes. These will be punctuated by a series of international live performances. No names so far, though Elie is predicting “a phenomenal surprise as big as it gets.”
 
Stay tuned.