Queen Rania's Best Elie Saab Dress

[Alexandria]

As is well documented, Queen Rania frequently wears gowns by designer Elie Saab. In this poll, as suggested and compiled by ~*~Humera~*~, vote -- and tell us why -- which of the following gowns is your favourite Elie Saab as worn by Jordan's queen.

If your favourite Elie Saab dress is not in this poll, feel free to share the image (hosted elsewhere first) and tell us why you prefer another choice.

The choices are as follows (in order)

1. Coronation
2. May 2001 - London
3. November 2001 - State visit, London: Option A
4. November 2001 - State visit, London: Option B
5. September 2002 - Versailles
6. November 2002 - Amman
7. November 2002 - New York
8. July 2003 - Jerash festival
9. October 2003 - State visit, Sweden: Option A
10. October 2003 - State visit, Sweden: Option B
11. June 2003 - WEF (STARS Foundation Gala)
12. November 2004 - London

Other Elie Saab gowns that Queen Rania has worn for your consideration:
June 2001 - Florence:


January 2002 - Dubai:


December 2002 - Jordan Song Festival:


October 2003 - Michigan:


December 2003 - Jordan Song Festival:


May 2004 - Prince Hamzah's wedding reception:

[Humera]

My all time favourite is #6, the aqua dress with the exquisite gold/steely grey embroidery that Queen Rania wore to the Arab Women's Summit gala. Like the coronation dress, it was custom made for the Queen.
I thought the entire look, hair, makeup, and the dress, was very well put together.
If I had to chose a second best, it'd be #4. The embroidery is beautiful and the style and cut of the gown is regal and elegant.
The painstaking attention to detail is what makes Elie Saab's designs so wonderfully unique.
No wonder he's one of QR's favourite designers.

I hope everyone who votes will let us know their thoughts on which of the above dresses they like best.

[Jackswife]

I voted for Number 5, the Versailles one, because I think the color and the drape of the neckline are so glamorous-looking (also the flowing hair and the dangling earrings are great!:) ) It's hard to pick just one but that's my choice.

[hillary_nugent]

I like the gown #4 =) it really shows off her slimness =)

[Citizen2005]

# 8: The color is so royal and suits her skintone. The design with the embroidery is so elegant especially when she was walking. Plus, this gown does not show her skinninness (sp?). then # 9, then # 1, then # 6, then # 3. The other ones are too simple for my taste.

NOTE: I rated the gowns that Rania was wearing and NOT the ones on the models as Elie's gowns (IMO) look more beautiful with the alterations he made for Rania.

[Humera]

the pink Versailles dress is also one of my favourites. However, the more I look at this dress, the more I feel that the dark brocade pattern on the fabric is a little too much. Maybe if it was only featured on the front and on the long, flowing sleeve, it wouldn't look a little too busy. But I think its because the detail is part of the fabric itself and not just embroidered later on.
Its still a very glamorous dress though.

[purple_platinum]

my favorites are #6, #10, #11, #12

forgive my cluelessness but could someone provide background information on Elie Saab?
i remembered Maria Teresa of Luxembourg sometimes used her design as well.

[suPeRgiRL!]

Queen Rania is a very attractive women.. She can either dress down or dress up and still looks drop dead gorgeous.. Elie Saab, on the other hand, is an amazing designer and all of his dresses make women feel really beautiful in them. It's a very hard decision, (I can't just choose one) but amongst them all, I think she wore them all elegantly, except for # 2, 7, 8 and 9.

[carlota]

this is such a nice thread alexandria! thanks!

Originally Posted by purple_platinum

my favorites are #6, #10, #11, #12

forgive my cluelessness but could someone provide background information on Elie Saab?
i remembered Maria Teresa of Luxembourg sometimes used her design as well.

she is a lebanese designer who became really popular in the last times. many arab celebrities and royals, of course, use it very often. little by little some european well known celebrities are beggining to choose her designs. i personally fancy a lot her dresses. they are so glittering, elegant and make a beautiful feminine look.
and yes, maria teresa wore one or two elie saabs, one of them in the wedding of felipe and letizia in madrid.

i
now, back to topic, it was hard to choose between these two:
http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?im...onation4qq.jpg
http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?im...itlondonb9.jpg
that are my all time favourite gowns of the ones rania has wore lately. they both look amazing on her. i finally chose the coronation one as it was the one rania wore in a really special event of her life.

[Humera]

Originally Posted by carlota

she is a lebanese designer who became really popular in the last times. many arab celebrities and royals, of course, use it very often. little by little some european well known celebrities are beggining to choose her designs. i personally fancy a lot her dresses. they are so glittering, elegant and make a beautiful feminine look.

you're absolutely right carlota, except Elie's a "he"

[Am I Bothered]

My favourite is no. 6, its absolutely gorgeous. It was tough too choose though, as they are all very beautiful. I have to say, in many instances, Rania wears the dresses better than the actual models! She has a great wardrobe!

[florawindsor]

Elie Saab dresses are the most beautiful gowns I've seen. they are my favorites! i like most of the dresses posted above, but i have to say sometimes the makeup(especially when Rania first became Queen) are just awful-.- thus affect the whole effect.
the only dress i don't like is dress #12. the color&makeup doesnot look very good. i can barely recognise QR

my favorite dress is #11, but if i have to choose a 'best' dress i 'd go with #4, cos #11 seems a bit casual. while #4 with the tiara, and the beautiful gown, QR looks so regal and beautiful

[Humera]

Originally Posted by florawindsor

Elie Saab dresses are the most beautiful gowns I've seen. they are my favorites! i like most of the dresses posted above, but i have to say sometimes the makeup(especially when Rania first became Queen) are just awful-.- thus affect the whole effect.
the only dress i don't like is dress #12. the color&makeup doesnot look very good. i can barely recognise QR

florawindsor, I completely agree with you about the makeup. The coronation dress looks so much better on Queen Rania in her formal portrait where she has her hair down and her makeup is very simple.
And by #12, are you referring to the green and black dress from the poll
http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?im...4london5df.jpg
or the yellow one QR wore to Prince Hamzah's wedding reception?
http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?im...ception1rt.jpg

If you're talking about the second one then I agree, Im not a huge fan of that shade of yellow on QR and the makeup is totally wrong. The dress itself is not bad but it just goes to show how everything, the hair, makeup, and dress, must pull together to create a beautiful look.

[Humera]

1. A brief profile of Elie Saab with a link to his website: Profile

2. Transcript of a profile/interview of Elie Saab on CNN

Here's an excerpt:

SADLER: It's here at his Atelier (ph) in Beirut that Elie Saab creates the material magic. Coming up with designs that adorn the shoulders of celluloid stars and Arabian queens, including a dress that Queen Rania of Jordan wore the day she was crowned.

SAAB (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I like the feeling when I see Queen Rania. It's not just because she is a queen, but she's showing a picture of a woman from the East. I find it a beautiful image of a woman.

[florawindsor]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

florawindsor, I completely agree with you about the makeup. The coronation dress looks so much better on Queen Rania in her formal portrait where she has her hair down and her makeup is very simple.
And by #12, are you referring to the green and black dress from the poll
http://img70.imageshack.us/my.php?im...4london5df.jpg
or the yellow one QR wore to Prince Hamzah's wedding reception?
http://img76.imageshack.us/my.php?im...ception1rt.jpg

If you're talking about the second one then I agree, Im not a huge fan of that shade of yellow on QR and the makeup is totally wrong. The dress itself is not bad but it just goes to show how everything, the hair, makeup, and dress, must pull together to create a beautiful look.

hi Humera, i'm talking about the green&black dress. i don't think green is a good color on her. actually I kind of like the 2nd dress(Hamzah's wedding reception) untill i saw close-up of the dress, the flower&leaves thing on the dress looks bad

[Humera]

Originally Posted by florawindsor

hi Humera, i'm talking about the green&black dress. i don't think green is a good color on her. actually I kind of like the 2nd dress(Hamzah's wedding reception) untill i saw close-up of the dress, the flower&leaves thing on the dress looks bad

really? hmm...well i kind of agree about the makeup, brown tones are usually not for brunettes. But I do like the green & black dress. I think the style lends itself well to a pregnant figure.
The yellow dress is pretty too. Perhaps if it was in a different colour or even a different shade of yellow, it'd look much better on Rania.
She once wore a really bright yellow jacket and it looked surprisingly good on her.

[florawindsor]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

really? hmm...well i kind of agree about the makeup, brown tones are usually not for brunettes. But I do like the green & black dress. I think the style lends itself well to a pregnant figure.
The yellow dress is pretty too. Perhaps if it was in a different colour or even a different shade of yellow, it'd look much better on Rania.
She once wore a really bright yellow jacket and it looked surprisingly good on her.

oh , I don't realise she was pregnant then. i guess that's why she looks so different. she looks great five (or six) month in pregnancy!

[Margrethe II]

Without a doubt, 9# (October 2003 - Swedish State visit: Option A)

That gown is superb and always manages to make my mouth drop in complete and utter awe

"MII"

[barbara_41172]

My vote goes to # 10 (October 2003 - State visit, Sweden: Option B)

Beautifully designed evening gown in the classical sense. Elie Saab is a maestro! The neutral colour tone of the dress suits Queen Rania to a tee and the draping and unusual single sleeve detail are very sensual. A very modern dress with classical elements. A Goddess is born!

TC
Love
Barbara

[kwanfan]

I love dress #4, the dark brown dress! Also love the blue and gold one. I think that the Elie Saab dresses look amazing because you can really see the incredible workmanship that goes into each one.