EuropeanLife Magazine 2018 #1 #1 | Page 18

Inspiration and muse He often gets inspired simply by observing the strength, determination and success of the modern-day women. More importantly, he understands them so well. That’s what motivates him to design such extraordinary couture collections. When it comes to dwelling on his muse, there is none like Christian Dior who as a designer and person has always titillated his imagination. “We’ve witnessed brilliant fashion designers throughout his- tory who’ve created trends and masterpieces. What makes Christian Dior my muse, however, is his ability to create ageless silhouettes,” Kobeisy said. Women who wear his creations are quite aware of what they want. They are simply seeking out a means of self-expression through his designs that celebrate their individuality as well as reflect their identity. T he mesmerizing world of haute couture is per- fectly exemplified as a palatial art form of designing one- of-a-kind dresses with as many intricate techniques as possible to make it look completely refined. To start with, the credit for this remarkable phenomenon as it seems seamlessly apparent today goes to the established skilled couture designers or the new ones we have emerging from the alleys of Lebanon as they are making the red carpet extravaganza and other galas more glamorous and memo- rable with their couture dresses, fueled by the A-list stars’ choice of them for such special occasions. The latest head-turner to have joined the club of elite Leba- nese couture designers is Saiid Kobeisy who possesses an incredible way of designing couture gowns similar to mosaic thanks to powerful visions that unequivocally arise like sea waves in his mind. It comes as no surprise that his new collection titled “Whispers of the Sea” is one such great example toward bringing to life that higher level of superiority and panache as often sought by women of sophisticated taste in any high society. Kobeisy’s love for superlative fashion grew in his teenage years. His father ran a boutique selling evening dresses. This is where he always went to in his free time to interact with the customers in order to guide them through things like what would look good on them in the most appropriate sense. “I felt quite encouraged when they believed what I recommended for them and embraced it with open arms. That’s how it occurred to me that fashion would only be my true calling,” he said. He then went on to study fashion design, and launched his own couture brand in 2002 with the opening of the first Saiid Kobeisy atelier in Beirut, Lebanon. This establishment came about when he realized he was fully geared up for it. “It was my passion and I had an eye for it leading me to start my own label,” he said. With so many couture brands competing against one an- other in the fashion industry, it becomes even more binding for them to come up with something that truly retains their status symbol in the market, making it easier for women customers to choose what appeals to them most. 18 As a matter of fact, the perfect woman that he visualizes to be looking one hundred percent dazzling in his couture dresses is someone whose brilliance stems from her self-confidence, determination and willpower. “My designs are a pure reflection of a woman’s desire to look after herself in the most sensual and feminine ways. She concentrates on what she wants to highlight in her silhouette rather than seeking at all costs to mask this or that part of her anatomy,” he said. “She’s not afraid to leave her mark and she never goes unnoticed wherever she makes her presence felt.” Not only that, he has launched his ready-to-wear bridal line that’s primarily focused on women who are bold, elegant and unconventional. This line is characterized by its high-end quality and exquisite designs. The generous volumes, flowing contours, and feminine cuts come together to produce a unique collection for the bride’s night to remember. And his “A Vision of Love 18” collection is an adorable bridal collection that gives the bride-to-be a chance to look her best. As for the fabrics, he uses lace Chantilly sourced from France and brocade sourced from Italy. “The majority of our fabrics are hand-embroidered in our atelier in Beirut,” he said. 19