Latest news with #GeorgesChakra
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Georges Chakra: My Pet Peeves And Guiltiest Pleasures
Revered for crafting the most wow-factor wedding dresses in the world, a Georges Chakra bridal gown is a walking work of art. Reserved for brides who dress-best, the creative director talks about the pursuit of perfection – one dress at a time Is it more important to be liked or respected? Respected. Being liked is always nice, and of course, you try to be kind and fair in how you deal with people everyday, but respect goes further. It means people believe in your work, values and judgment. Do you have a book that changed your life? Le Petit Prince. I read it when I was very young, and it's one of those stories that stays with you. It teaches you to look and to see with your heart – not just your eyes. That's something I still use when I design. What did you last Spotify Wrapped look like? I actually still listen to my CD collection; there is something very tactile and personal when looking through the CDs and picking one. My collection consists of mostly classical Arabic songs. I don't usually design with music playing, but I'll put something on in the car or late at night when I need to clear my head. Who is your hero? My mother. She was strong, elegant, never tried too hard. Everything I know about order and presence, I learned from her. What do you consider the most over-rated virtue? Perfection. It doesn't really exist but I still find myself chasing it – in the fit of a dress, in organising my office, even in how the ribbons are tied on hangers. What would you ban if you had the chance? Excess noise online, in fashion and everywhere. We need more space to experience, to think, feel and breathe. What is your motto? Less in more, but every detail matters. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd learn to rest more. My mind never really turns off; even on vacation, I find myself sketching or mentally sorting through potential ideas. What's your greatest extravagance? Travelling. I love discovering unexpected shops in small towns with a history of craft, where things are still made by hand. To me, that is true luxury. What is your most treasured possession? A watch I bought for myself when I reached what felt like my first real milestone in my career. It was a quiet reminder that I was building something of my own. If you could be anyone else, who would it be? A painter. There's something so freeing about working with colour and emotion, without rules or fittings or deadlines. Just you, the canvas and the moment. What are you proudest of? The fact that we've built something lasting, with integrity and with heart. I have been surrounded by incredible people who believed in the vision and helped shape it with me. What does success mean to you? Success is consistency, and being able to do what I love, at a high level, year after year, without compromising my vision. What trait do you most admire in others? Poise. There's something so powerful about someone who moves with quiet confidence, especially in a world that's always competing to be louder. It's grace under pressure. What inspires you most about your job? The process of taking a fabric and shaping it into something that feels intentional and that tells a story; that's what keeps it interesting. Armani. What would you tell your younger self? Be patient, and trust your instincts. What is your guiltiest pleasure? It is not always guilty, but late-night desserts.
The National
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Heidi Klum breaks Cannes Film Festival red carpet rules in Elie Saab gown
The 78th Cannes Film Festival has started with a healthy dose of controversy. Most importantly, a number of celebrities have signed a letter condemning Israel's ongoing war on Gaza. Less importantly, a new set of rules around what can be worn on the red carpet have been instated. The dress-code section of the festival website now includes the following: 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as in any other area of the festival. Voluminous outfits, in particular those with a large train, that hinder the proper flow of traffic of guests and complicate seating in the theatre are not permitted.' German-American model and television presenter Heidi Klum, who arrived in blush pink Elie Saab, appears to be in direct contradiction of the new Cannes dress guidelines. The pink organza gown is smothered in swirls of fabric to resemble roses, and comes with a long, red-carpet-blocking train. The cascade of flowers spilled along the red carpet for at least two metres. The strapless look also has a dramatic leg-baring split, and Klum paired it with jewellery by Lorraine Schwartz. Elsewhere on opening night, another Lebanese designer, Georges Chakra Couture, dressed television personality Raya Abirached. Abirached also arrived at the opening ceremony of the festival in an off-shoulder gown with a flowing skirt and long train. From the brand's autumn/winter 2025 couture collection, the soft caramel dress is folded into complex micro-pleating around the bodice and has draped silk chiffon sleeves. Cartier jewellery finished the look. This is not the first time the two Lebanese designers have appeared on the Cannes red carpet. Abirached is a regular at the event and often chooses to wear Georges Chakra. Last year, she opted for a red velvet look with a structured, strapless bodice, and layers of tone-on-tone beading around the hips and knee. Chakra has a history of working with celebrities to create red-carpet looks. As well as Abirached, the designer dressed Klum in black lace and bows from his autumn-winter 2024 couture collection, for the Amazon MGM Studios x Vanity Fair party in January. Other stars who have been spotted in Georges Chakra include Sharon Stone, in an archival 2014 look, and Sofia Vergara, in autumn-winter 2024 couture, during the Golden Globe Awards in January. Elie Saab, too, is an established red carpet go-to, having dressed the likes of Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Georgina Rodriguez, Olivia Palermo and Nancy Ajram over the years. He famous dressed Halle Berry when she won her Oscar in 2002, a moment that propelled the designer to international fame.
Arab News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Quinta Brunson opts for Lebanese gown in Los Angeles
DUBAI: Emmy-winning actress, comedian and writer Quinta Brunson showed off a gown by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad at the 14th Annual Spring Break Gala by City Year Los Angeles. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Founded in 1988, City Year is a national service program that offers full-time community service. This weekend, the Los Angeles chapter held its annual gala, which was attended by the likes of US actress and film producer Viola Davis and 'Abbott Elementary' sitcom creator Brunson. Brunson's column gown hailed from Zuhair Murad's Pre-Fall 2025 collection. The look featured star-like embellishments across the torso, bust and cuffs. It is not the first time Brunson has worn a Lebanese creation on the red carpet — in September, she showed off a mermaid sculpted gown from Lebanese designer Georges Chakra's Fall/Winter 2024-2025 couture collection at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Murad has continued to attract celebrity clientele to his eveningwear label. In late April, Murad made a statement at the 2025 Time 100 Gala with US actress Blake Lively, as well as singer and songwriter Nicole Scherzinger, showcasing his creations on the red carpet. Lively, who attended the event with her husband Ryan Reynolds, wore a pink taffeta off-the-shoulder gown featuring a corseted bodice and a train detail from Murad's ready-to-wear Spring 2025 collection. Scherzinger, meanwhile, chose a black off-the-shoulder sequin gown from Murad's ready-to-wear Pre-Fall 2025 collection. One month earlier, Murad unveiled his latest collaboration with Italian label Marina Rinaldi. Murad designed the brand's Spring/Summer 2025 capsule collection inspired by China's Tang dynasty. Drawing from the dynasty's introduction of peony cultivation in imperial gardens, Murad infused the collection with images of the flower. The collection focuses largely on eveningwear. 'Grand evening gowns go beyond the pure object, they are a way of investing in one's personal history,' the designer said in a released statement. True to his signature style, the collection features hourglass silhouettes and intricate hand-embroidered details. The collection's color palette mirrors another element of Tang dynasty artistry — delicate chinaware. Soft shades of cream, sky blue, aquamarine green and pink infuse the flowing chiffon gowns, pleated bodices and long plisse skirts.
Gulf Insider
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Insider
Met Gala 2025: Will Arab Designers Who Shone At World's Best Fashion Showcase Dominate Spectacle Again?
Arab designers have consistently delivered standout moments at the Met Gala over the years — and 2025 is likely to be no different. As fashion's biggest night returns tonight with the theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' there's every reason to expect designers from the region to make their presence felt once again. The showcase will be telecast live on YouTube, Tuesday early morning starting 2am, local time. While this year's Met Gala honours Black sartorial identity and culture, designers like Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, and Georges Chakra remain red carpet favourites. Their designs—known for precision tailoring, dramatic silhouettes, and couture-level embellishment—have helped shape the Met's most unforgettable fashion moments. Rihanna chose Lebanese designer Georges Chakra gown for her Met debut in 2007. Jennifer Lopez made waves in a beaded Zuhair Murad creation in 2010. Hilary Duff, Elizabeth Hurley, Camila Morrone, and Jasmine Tookes have all stepped onto the Met's iconic stairs draped in Arab-designed gowns that turned heads and earned fashion headlines. With Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour co-chairing this year's event—and LeBron James joining as honorary co-chair—the gala also supports an exhibition inspired by Monica L. Miller's book Slaves to Fashion , celebrating Black dandyism and the creativity of the Black diaspora. Arab designers may not be the theme, but they continue to be a key part of the Met Gala narrative. If history is anything to go by, expect their work to command attention once again on the most-watched red carpet of the year.
Gulf News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Met Gala 2025: Will Arab designers who shone at world's best fashion showcase dominate spectacle again?
Dubai: Arab designers have consistently delivered standout moments at the Met Gala over the years — and 2025 is likely to be no different. As fashion's biggest night returns tonight with the theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' there's every reason to expect designers from the region to make their presence felt once again. The showcase will be telecast live on YouTube, Tuesday early morning starting 2am, local time. While this year's Met Gala honours Black sartorial identity and culture, designers like Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, and Georges Chakra remain red carpet favourites. Their designs—known for precision tailoring, dramatic silhouettes, and couture-level embellishment—have helped shape the Met's most unforgettable fashion moments. Rihanna chose Lebanese designer Georges Chakra gown for her Met debut in 2007. Jennifer Lopez made waves in a beaded Zuhair Murad creation in 2010. Hilary Duff, Elizabeth Hurley, Camila Morrone, and Jasmine Tookes have all stepped onto the Met's iconic stairs draped in Arab-designed gowns that turned heads and earned fashion headlines. With Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour co-chairing this year's event—and LeBron James joining as honorary co-chair—the gala also supports an exhibition inspired by Monica L. Miller's book Slaves to Fashion, celebrating Black dandyism and the creativity of the Black diaspora. Arab designers may not be the theme, but they continue to be a key part of the Met Gala narrative. If history is anything to go by, expect their work to command attention once again on the most-watched red carpet of the year.
